CHICAGO — Vice President Kamala Harris called for the Palestinian people to be able to “realize their right to dignity, security, freedom and self-determination” while reiterating her support for a ceasefire and hostage deal between Israel and Hamas during her remarks here Thursday at the Democratic National Convention.
Harris said that as president, she would maintain the US alliance with Israel and “ensure Israel has the ability to defend itself.” She condemned the October 7 attacks on Israel by Hamas but also acknowledged the suffering of Palestinians in Gaza amid Israel’s military operation in the enclave.
“What has happened in Gaza over the past 10 months is devastating. So many innocent lives lost. Desperate, hungry people fleeing for safety over and over again. The scale of suffering is heartbreaking,” she said. “President Biden and I are working to end this war such that Israel is secure, the hostages are released, the suffering in Gaza ends and …