Harris’s remarks could derail hostage negotiations, top Israeli official warns

A senior Israeli official on Friday sharply criticized Vice President Kamala Harris for her recent comments on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, made following her Thursday meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The official expressed concern that Harris’s remarks might be perceived by Hamas as a sign of growing discord between the U.S. and Israel, potentially stalling crucial hostage deal negotiations.

“We cannot allow ourselves to be numb to the suffering, and I will not be silent,” Harris said during a press conference after her meeting with Netanyahu.

This statement, however, differed significantly from the tone and content of their discussions, according to the official. “Her tone surprised us and diverged from what was communicated in our meeting with the prime minister,” the official noted.

The official emphasized the need for a unified stance to avoid any perception of rift that could be exploited by Hamas. “The question now is how Hamas will respond to the Israeli proposal,” they said, highlighting that both U.S. President Joe Biden and Harris had previously stressed the importance of maintaining a cohesive position to ensure the success of the deal. “We can only hope that this does not jeopardize the progress we’ve made.”

* Ynet contributed to this article