Kamala Harris says US will not stop pressuring Israel for ceasefire

(Patria) - The United States will not ease its "pressure" on Israeli and Arab leaders to reach a deal on hostages and a ceasefire in Gaza, Vice President Kamala Harris said, as reported by AFP.

Washington is working with Israel on humanitarian aid and "the need to reach a deal that would release hostages and establish a ceasefire. And we will not stop in terms of exerting that pressure on Israel and in the region, including Arab leaders," Harris told CBS's "60 Minutes." But Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu "is not listening," CBS's Bill Whitaker suggested in a snippet of the interview, which is set to air in full today.

The Democratic presidential candidate asserted that US efforts have "resulted in numerous movements in that region by Israel that have been largely spurred or the result of many things, including our advocacy for what must happen in the region."

Speaking about Iran's missile attack on Israel, she insisted that "our imperative is to do everything we can to allow Israel to defend itself from such attacks."

Israel is on high alert ahead of the Monday anniversary of Hamas's unprecedented October 7 attack, which triggered the war in Gaza. Israel has now turned its focus north to Hezbollah, Iran-backed Hamas's ally in Lebanon, and has vowed revenge for Iran's missile attack. Last year's attack by militants on Israel on October 7 resulted in the deaths of about 1,205 people, mostly civilians. At least 41,870 people, mostly civilians, have been killed in Israel's offensive in Gaza.

When asked by Whitaker if the US has a "right, close ally" in Netanyahu, Harris replied that "a better question is: do we have an important alliance between the American and Israeli people?" and added that "the answer to that question is yes."