Vice President Kamala Harris speaks on March 3, 2024. Photo by Elijah Nouvelage/Getty Images

By Jacob Kornbluh March 3, 2024

Vice President Kamala Harris called Sunday for an “immediate ceasefire” in Gaza, indicating a shift of tone from the Biden administration about the nearly five-months-long war between Israel and Hamas. 

“Given the immense scale of suffering in Gaza, there must be an immediate ceasefire,” Harris said in remarks in Selma, Alabama, drawing loud applause from the crowd before completing her sentence, “at least for the next six weeks, which is currently on the table.” 

“This is what will get the hostages out and a significant amount of aid in,” Harris added.

The remarks echoed President Joe Biden’s direct call on both sides to agree to the terms of a negotiated hostage-for-prisoner deal. The proposal outlined during talks held last week between an Israeli delegation and mediators from the United States, Qatar, and Egypt include the release of at least 40 hostages during a six-week phase and the entry of increased humanitarian aid into Gaza. Israel provisionally accepted the framework, according to U.S. officials, but Hamas did not yet provide negotiators a clear answer.

Harris’ use of the word “ceasefire,” which Biden used last week in remarks to reporters, suggests a shift in the administration’s public approach towards Israel, amid pressure from the Democratic Party’s progressive flank. The vice president has reportedly advocated for greater empathy towards the suffering of Gazans. Harris said in private conversations, according to a Politico report, that she is acutely aware of the potential risks posed by Biden’s public show of support for Israel. 

Last week, more than 100,000 Democratic voters marked “uncommitted” on their ballots in the Michigan presidential primary to show their frustration with Biden’s failure to endorse a permanent ceasefire in the war. The vote in the critical swing state prompted the president to more strongly pressure Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to halt Israel’s military campaign in Gaza.

On Friday, Biden announced that the U.S. will airdrop humanitarian aid to Gaza to put pressure on Israel to facilitate more truck deliveries of humanitarian aid. “No excuses, because the truth is, aid flowing to Gaza is nowhere nearly enough,” Biden said. “Innocent lives are on the line and children’s lives are on the line.” Three Air Force planes dropped 38,000 ready-to-eat Halal meals in southern Gaza, where most of the Palestinian population is sheltering. 

The “Listen To Michigan” campaign said Harris’ remarks underscored that the administration “is moving because of the pressure from uncommitted Democrats.” But they said they are still urging the White House to pursue an end to the war. 

Sen. Chris Murphy, a Democrat from Connecticut, said on Sunday morning that Biden should change his approach based on U.S. national interests. “I would hope that the president doesn’t make decisions about what to do in Gaza or the Middle East based upon how the votes line up,” Murphy said on ABC’s This Week. “These issues are too important to be dictated by the polls.”

Harris is scheduled to meet on Monday with Benny Gantz, a senior war cabinet minister, at her ceremonial office in the White House.

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