Vice President Kamala Harris addressed the recent Israeli hostage rescue operation, delivering a speech on Saturday. During her address, Harris mourned the loss of Palestinian lives in the operation while celebrating the retrieval of four hostages taken by Hamas on October 7.
Speaking at the Michigan Democratic Party event, Harris acknowledged the heavy toll on everyone’s hearts. She highlighted the brutal massacre of 1,200 innocent people by Hamas and the abduction of 250 hostages. While she celebrated the reunion of four hostages with their families, she expressed deep sorrow for the innocent lives lost in Gaza.
“Before I begin, I just say a few words about the morning, which I know weighs heavily on all of our hearts,” she said.
“On Oct. 7, Hamas committed a brutal massacre of 1,200 innocent people and abducted 250 hostages,” she continued. “Thankfully, four of those hostages were reunited with their families tonight. And we mourn all of the innocent lives that have been lost in Gaza, including those tragically killed today.”
Harris emphasized the importance of ending the conflict in a way that ensures Israel’s security, brings home all hostages, ends Palestinian suffering, and upholds their right to self-determination and dignity. Echoing President Biden’s call for the war to end, she stressed the need for a peaceful resolution.
“We have been working every day to bring an end to this conflict in a way that ensures Israel is secure, brings home all hostages, ends ongoing suffering for Palestinian people, and ensures that Palestinians can enjoy their right to self-determination, dignity, and freedom,” she added. “As President Biden said last week, it is time for this war to end.”
Despicable Kamala Harris speaks at Michigan Democratic Party Legacy Dinner |
Kamala Harris says we mourn all the innocent lives that have been lost in Gaza including those tragically killed today. For the past eight months President Biden and I have been working everyday to… pic.twitter.com/Q3PV79V6oE
— Andrea Shaffer, Employment/Labor Law (@Andreafreedom76) June 10, 2024
Hamas-run authorities in Gaza claimed over 270 Palestinians were killed in the Israeli operation, although they did not differentiate between militants and innocents. Israeli forces, however, reported fewer than 100 casualties. White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan confirmed the tragic loss of innocent lives during the operation but could not provide a definitive death toll.
Israeli forces accused Hamas of using civilian environments to hold hostages, making rescue operations even more challenging. Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari of the IDF revealed that Hamas had been keeping hostages in civilian buildings, including those where the recent rescues took place.
The stories of Noa Argamani, 26, Almog Meir Jan, 22, Shlomi Ziv, 41, and Andrey Kozlov, 27, who were successfully rescued, underscore the human impact of these operations. As the conflict continues, the focus remains on securing a peaceful resolution and protecting innocent lives on all sides.
