"I condemn any individuals associating with the brutal terrorist organization Hamas, which has vowed to annihilate the State of Israel and kill Jews," Harris said in a statement on the protests earlier Thursday. "Pro-Hamas graffiti and rhetoric is abhorrent and we must not tolerate it in our nation."
"Let us all condemn terrorism and violence," Harris said after meeting with Netanyahu Thursday. "Let us all do what we can to prevent the suffering of innocent civilians. And let us condemn anti-Semitism, Islamophobia and hate of any kind. And let us work to unite our country."
Biden and Netanyahu held a bilateral meeting in the Oval Office earlier in the day, after which the two heads of state met with the families of American hostages.
"We feel probably more optimistic than we have since the first round of releases in late November, early December, where a little over 100 of Israel's hostages were released," Jonathan Dekel-Chen, whose son Sagui is currently being held hostage in Gaza, said.
"We got absolute commitment from the Biden administration and from Prime Minister Netanyahu that they understand the urgency of this moment now, to waste no time, and to complete this deal as it currently stands."
According to the Ministry of Health in Gaza, which is controlled by Hamas, since the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel is more than 39,000. In addition to reported fatalities, roughly 90,000 Palestinians have been reported injured.
More than 1,100 people were killed in Hamas' brutal surprise attack on Israel Oct. 7, 2023, triggering the Israeli military incursion.
"What has happened in Gaza over the past nine months is devastating," said Harris. "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."
