Joe Biden’s support of Israel’s actions in Gaza has caused many things to change. It also became the reason for division in the Democratic Party between moderates and progressives. As Joe Biden will not participate in the upcoming US election. So, if Kamala Harris becomes the president, she may adopt a different approach to resolve the conflict. 

Kamala Harris views on conflicts between Israel- Hamas is different as compared to Joe Biden. She also did not attend the latest speech of Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyau. He recently spoke to Congress. Harris disappeared because she was already committed to another event in Indianapolis. Many Democrats, including some moderates, chose not to attend Netanyahu’s speech in protest.

Harris is expected to meet Netanyahu soon and reportedly plans to push for a resolution that ensures Israel’s security while also addressing the suffering of Palestinians and their right to dignity and self-determination.

Harris is not too experienced and new in her campaign. She also did not share her views regarding the Gaza war. But by skipping Netanyahu’s speech and pushing for a ceasefire, she may adopt a different approach as compared to Joe Biden. The current president of the United States, Joe Biden, stands in favor of Israel and supports Netanyahu. He hugged him when he visited  Tel Aviv last November. Also Joe Biden allows financial and military aid to Israel. If Harris becomes the President and does not suppose Israel then it may impact on the US- Israel relation. 

Kamala’s opinion related to Gaza war

Kamala Harris is deeply attached with the American Jewish community and Israeli groups. He married the Jewish man and her husband  Doug Emhoff has been an important figure in the Biden administration’s efforts to combat antisemitism following Hamas’s attack on Israel on October 7.

Harris also has a good relationship with Israeli President Isaac Herzog. With him she shares a strong interest in climate issues. Harris is also the prominent figure that attended all calls made by Joe Biden to the Israeli prime minister during the conflict. 

In her presidential campaign, Harris received support from major Jewish organizations like Democratic Majority for Israel, J Street, and the Jewish Democratic Council of America. She’s also linked to AIPAC and spoke at their conference in 2017, shortly after joining the Senate. There, she emphasized her belief in the unbreakable bond between the U.S. and Israel by opposing a UN resolution that condemned Israel.

Recently, after protesters burned the American flag outside Congress during Netanyahu’s visit, Harris condemned the act and criticized anyone supporting Hamas, which aims to destroy Israel and harm Jews.

Harris also supported Israel’s right to defend itself strategy against Hamas. This view is similar to Joe Biden. But she also has been more critical about how Israel treat the Palestinian civilians. In March, she was the first one from Biden’s administration that conveyed the urgent ceasefire. She said Israel should stop the conflict and send aid to Gaza.  She also said that the situation is going towards “humanitarian disaster”. The speech she gave was toned down from the original version, which was more critical of Israel’s delay in sending aid.

Harris also understands the emotion of college students who protested against Israel’s action. Many Americans protested in order to pressurize the government to avoid further disaster from conflict. 

Some prominent figures from Biden’s team may be replaced by Harris, if she will be in power. It includes Jake Sullivan, Antony Blinken, and Lloyd Austin. It is normal for new presidents to build their own team. It could also lead to adopting a different strategy regarding the Gaza conflict. 

Harris’s national security adviser, Philip Gordon, prefers diplomatic solutions over military ones and has studied the challenges of changing governments in the Middle East. This background could be important as Israel tries to deal with Hamas and set up a new government in Gaza.

Many people expect that Harris will prove more progressive as compared to Biden on the Gaza conflict. But people still don’t know what their strategies will be. According to Abed Ayoub from the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, it is good for Kamala to clearly represent her views. 

Also, just like Biden’s promises about Saudi Arabia didn’t always match his actions, Harris’s campaign promises might change once she’s in office.