The US has no plans to send troops to help with the conflict between Israel and Hamas on the ground, Vice President Kamala Harris said on Sunday.
Meanwhile, the new Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mike Johnson, plans to introduce a standalone bill this week that would provide financial assistance to Israel in its ongoing conflict with Hamas terrorists.
Hamas terrorists based in the Palestinian enclave of Gaza invaded Israel earlier this month in a surprise multi-front attack that led to the largest single-day massacre of Jewish people since the Holocaust.
“We have absolutely no intention and no plans to send combat troops to Israel or Gaza, period,” Harris said in a 60 Minutes interview that aired Sunday.
President Joe Biden’s administration and congressional leaders have said the US will listen to Israel’s request and try to give what is asked.
Harris said the US is providing advice, equipment and diplomatic support to Israel following the slaughter of their people by Hamas terrorists.
Vice President Kamala Harris said definitively in a 60 Minutes interview broadcast Sunday that the US “absolutely has no intention and no plans to send combat troops to Israel or Gaza.”
Hamas terrorists attacked Israel earlier this month, leading to the largest single-day massacre of Jewish people since the Holocaust. So far, 1,400 Israelis have been killed in the conflict. Pictured: Israeli security forces and emergency services stand guard in the northern Israeli town of Kiryat Shmona after being hit by a rocket from Lebanon on October 29
However, she also reiterated points during the interview that some Republicans claim are anti-Israel and anti-Semitic.
Moreover, staunch pro-Israel Republicans say the Palestinians should be equated with Hamas because they have chosen the designated terrorist organization as their de facto government in Gaza.
“A terrorist organization – Hamas – massacred hundreds of young people at a concert,” Harris said in condemning the attack, noting the death toll of 1,400 Israelis.
“Israel has, without a doubt, the right to defend itself,” the vice president added with a caveat.
“That said, it is very important that there is no convergence between Hamas and the Palestinians. Palestinians deserve equal measures in safety and security, self-determination and dignity,” she said. “And we have been very clear that the rules of war must be adhered to and that humanitarian aid must flow.”
Harris is likely referring to criticism from Democrats and pro-Palestinian Americans who have called for an Israeli ceasefire and said they are committing war crimes by killing Palestinian civilians in their counterattacks.
But Israel says it has not deliberately targeted civilians, but that Hamas is using innocent people such as children and the sick in hospitals to protect itself.
The US announced it will send $100 million in humanitarian aid to the Palestinian people in Gaza and the West Bank. But Republicans say this money goes straight into the hands of Hamas terrorists.
President Joe Biden also proposed a plan that would provide $10 billion in aid — but it was a dual package that would send aid to both Israel and Ukraine in the ongoing war with Russia.
Johnson said Republicans would reject this plan and instead put forward an aid bill to help Israel, claiming this is the more pressing issue.
Harris said: ‘Palestinians deserve equal measures in safety and security, self-determination and dignity’ after the Biden administration sent $100 million in humanitarian aid to Gaza and the West Bank
Democrats have called for an Israeli ceasefire after the Jewish state launched counterattacks that killed thousands of people in Gaza. Pictured: Palestinians inspect the destroyed house after an Israeli airstrike on Rafah in the Gaza Strip
The new Speaker of the House of Representatives’ first trip since taking over the gavel last week was to Las Vegas, Nevada, on Saturday to speak to the Republican Jewish Coalition at its annual summit, just three weeks after Hamas attacked Israel.
His first action as chairman was to put forward a resolution expressing support for Israel.
The double package that Biden proposed would cause problems with several lawmakers.
First, there are Republicans who are against sending any more aid to Ukraine. But there are progressive, pro-Palestinian Democrats who would not vote to send aid to Israel.
Republicans blame Biden’s $6 billion payment to Iran for the release of five hostages for encouraging the Hamas attack on Israel. It has long been known that Iran and Hezbollah help finance and arm Hamas.
But the Democrats denounce this.
When asked in her 60 Minutes interview what her message is for Iran as it considers getting involved in the conflict and expanding it into a regional war, Harris said: “Don’t.”
‘A word. Pretty simple.’
