In an interview, Vice President Harris stood by the Biden administration’s handling of the Israel-Hamas war but acknowledged how Israel defends itself matters and that “too many innocent Palestinians” have died.
“Our position has always been that Israel has a right to defend itself, without any question. And how it does so matters,” Harris said in an interview with MSNBC’s Lawrence O’Donnell that is set to air Tuesday evening.
“As I have said many times, I think we know that far too many innocent Palestinians have been killed. And it is important then — and we have made clear our perspective on this — that there be a lessening of the intensity and more precision around how Israel goes after Hamas and the leadership of Hamas,” she continued.
Harris’s comments come days after top U.S. officials have discussed with Israeli officials a transition to more “surgical operations” and ways the Israeli military could lower the intensity of the war.
The Israeli military continued its ground campaign in Gaza on Tuesday, raiding one of the last functioning hospitals in northern Gaza and launching more airstrikes in the south.
Harris said she recently spoke with several leaders in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, about the U.S.’s commitment to a two-state solution in the war.
The vice president said the administration is committed “to doing the hard work that will require to get to a place where we, for the principles that we have stated, will insist there’ll be no reoccupation of Gaza by the Israelis, there’ll be no forced displacement of Palestinians.”
The administration has claimed it will continue to negotiate a two-state solution, though it has acknowledged that it would be “elusive.”
National security spokesperson John Kirby said negotiators are not close to getting leaders to agree to a two-state solution between Israel and Palestine, as the war with Hamas will reshape the region and open questions regarding what the future holds for Palestinians in Gaza.
Kirby said the administration is not giving up on conversations with leaders on both sides.