Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo slammed Vice President Harris for her recent comments on the Israel-Hamas war, claiming the presumptive Democratic nominee’s rhetoric is “fueling” the continued conflict in Gaza.
“The kind of things that Vice President Harris is saying are fueling the continued war and the continued risk,” Pompeo, who served under former President Trump, said Saturday in an interview on Fox News.
“Whenever I hear President Biden or Vice President Harris talk about a cease-fire, what they are really saying is they’re going to allow the horrors of Oct. 7 to happen again,” he added.
While both Harris and Biden have advocated for a cease-fire in the Middle East region, the administration has maintained that a secure Israel is a key priority in the negotiations.
“I will always ensure that Israel is able to defend itself, including from Iran and Iran-backed militias such as Hamas and Hezbollah,” Harris said in remarks following a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last week
Following the closed-door conversation, the vice president also made a bold and direct statement regarding the toll the conflict had on Palestinian civilians, a slight break from previous administration statements.
“What has happened in Gaza over the past nine months is devastating,” Harris said. “The images of dead children and desperate hungry people fleeing for safety, sometimes displaced for the second, third or fourth time. We cannot look away in the face of these tragedies. We cannot allow ourselves to become numb to the suffering, and I will not be silent.”
Pompeo, a staunch supporter of Israel, alleged that the Iranian regime is in complete control of Hamas behind the scenes. He emphasized a need for force and an uncompromising attitude in dealing with Iran, citing the Trump administration’s decision to assassinate Iranian official Qasem Soleimani.
“The Iranians took note and that deterrence was restored,” Pompeo said. “It is only that strength they’ll understand.”
“They are simply never going to understand ‘Hey, can we all just get along,'” he added.
Over the last week, tensions in the middle east have increased after the assassination of Ismail Haniyah, a top Hamas official, in Iran. Haniyah was in Tehran to attend the inauguration of Iran’s newest president.
While Israel has not taken responsibility for the strike in Tehran, Netanyahu delivered defiant remarks after the death was announced, saying Israel was “achieving its war aims.” Iran has placed blame on Israel and vowed to take revenge, sparking fears that the conflict could evolve into a flow-blown war in the region.
Artillery exchanges between Israel and the Iran-backed group Hezbollah, have also picked up, with the Biden administration urging citizens in Lebanon to “shelter in place” Wednesday. The alerts come after an Israeli airstrike in Beirut killed one of the group’s top leaders late last month.
Biden and Harris made a private call to Netanyahu Thursday, where they expressed concerns about escalation and stressed the need for a cease-fire immediately.
“I had a very direct meeting with prime minister … very direct,” Biden told reporters Thursday night. “We have the basis for a cease-fire. They should move on it, and they should move on it now.”