ICYMI: Vice President Kamala Harris Engages In Intensive Round of Diplomacy on Israel-Hamas Conflict While Outlining Guiding Principles for Post-Conflict Gaza and Calling on Israel to "Do More to Protect Innocent Civilians"

"As Israel defends itself, it matters how. The United States is unequivocal: International humanitarian law must be respected. Too many innocent Palestinians have been killed," the Vice President said in Dubai after a series of diplomatic talks with Arab regional leaders

DUBAI – Vice President Kamala Harris continued her leadership on the world stage while in the United Arab Emirates over the weekend where she engaged in an intensive round of diplomacy on the conflict between Israel and Hamas and gave her most extensive remarks to date on the conflict. During her 15th foreign trip, the Vice President held a series of key diplomatic talks with Arab regional leaders, outlined guiding principles for post-conflict Gaza, proposed areas of focus to accelerate this day-after planning, and spoke to the scale of civilian suffering in Gaza while making clear that "too many innocent Palestinian have been killed."

"President Biden and I have also been clear with the Israeli government in public and in private many times: As Israel defends itself, it matters how. The United States is unequivocal: International humanitarian law must be respected. Too many innocent Palestinians have been killed," said Vice President Harris. "As Israel pursues its military objectives in Gaza, we believe Israel must do more to protect innocent civilians."

During the Vice President's trip to Dubai for COP28, she met with Arab regional leaders about the conflict between Israel and Hamas. This includes President Mohamed bin Zayed of the UAE, President el-Sisi of Egypt, and King Abdullah of Jordan. She also spoke on the phone with Amir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani of Qatar.

A critical focus of this round of diplomacy was post-conflict Gaza, a key priority for Vice President Harris in the eight weeks since the October 7 Hamas terrorist attacks. While renewing her commitment to a two-state solution and reiterating that "Israelis and Palestinians must enjoy equal measures of prosperity and freedom," she outlined five guiding principles for post-conflict Gaza. This includes no forcible displacement, no reoccupation, no siege or blockade, no reduction in territory, and no use of Gaza as a platform for terrorism. "We want to see a unified Gaza and West Bank under the Palestinian Authority, and Palestinian voices and aspirations must be at the center of this work," said the Vice President.

During her diplomatic meetings, Vice President Harris specifically proposed three overarching areas of focus to accelerate this day-after planning: reconstruction, security, and governance.

She called on the international community to dedicate significant resources to support short and long-term recovery in Gaza including rebuilding hospitals and housing, restoring electricity and clean water, and ensuring businesses can reopen. The Vice President also said that the Palestinian Authority Forces must be strengthened and eventually assume security responsibilities in Gaza, reiterating "terrorists will not be permitted to continue to threaten Israel." Finally, she called for a revitalized Palestinian Authority, "driven by the will of the Palestinian people, which will allow them to benefit from the rule of law and a transparent, responsive government."

Vice President Harris's ongoing diplomatic work came during a trip to Dubai for COP28 where she continued her consistent leadership on bold climate action. She delivered America's National Statement, participated in a critical Leaders Session on renewable energy, and announced a series of initiatives including a $3 billion pledge to the Green Climate Fund. The Vice President also made clear that the Biden-Harris Administration is delivering on the most aggressive climate agenda in history, $1 trillion that she helped make possible with her tie-breaking vote in the U.S. Senate.

Read more about the Vice President's intensive round of diplomacy on the conflict between Israel and Hamas:

The Associated Press: Harris focuses on shaping a post-conflict Gaza during a diplomatic blitz in Dubai with Arab leaders

Vice President Kamala Harris engaged in a speed round of diplomatic talks with Arab leaders on Saturday where she focused on shaping the outlook for a post-conflict Gaza while calling on Israel to do more to protect Palestinian civilians from the "devastating" bombardment. […]

The vice president said that, at some point, the fighting will draw to an end and a plan must be ready for what comes next. […]

The vice president said she also talked with Arab leaders about three key elements for a post-conflict Gaza: reconstruction, security and governance. She said she stressed that it will be up to the region's key nations, as well as other nations and organizations, to "dedicate significant resources" to rebuilding hospitals and housing. Electricity and clean water must be available, while bakeries must be able to reopen, she said.

Harris said Palestinian Authority security forces "must be strengthened to eventually assume security responsibilities in Gaza" while stressing that terrorists cannot be allowed to continue to threaten Israel as a condition for security.

The New York Times: Harris Says U.S. Strongly Opposes 'Forced Relocation of Palestinians From Gaza'

Vice President Kamala Harris said on Saturday that the United States fiercely opposes forcibly relocating Gaza residents outside the enclave as Israel resumes its bombardment of Hamas terrorists, or in the days and weeks after the war eventually ends. […]

Ms. Harris delivered the stern comments after a daylong diplomatic blitz with the leaders of four Arab countries in Dubai, where she was attending the United Nations global climate summit known as COP28. Her trip had been announced as climate-related, but she spent far more time meeting and talking with the Arab leaders about the Israel-Hamas war. […]

In a brief news conference in Dubai, Ms. Harris said her conversations had focused on what Israel and Hamas — and the rest of the countries in the Middle East — would need to do once the war is over.

"When this conflict ends, Hamas cannot control Gaza and Israel must be secure," she said. "Palestinians need a hopeful political horizon, economic opportunity and freedom. And the region more broadly must be integrated and prosperous. And we must work toward that."

Reuters: VP Harris urges Israel protect Gaza civilians, sketches post-conflict vision

U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris said on Saturday too many Palestinians are being killed in Gaza and urged Israel to do more to protect them as she sketched out a U.S. vision for post-conflict Gaza.

At a news conference on the sidelines of the COP28 summit, Harris said Israel has a legitimate right to conduct military operations against Hamas militants, who launched attacks from Gaza on Oct. 7 in which more than 1,200 people in southern Israel were killed.

"As Israel defends itself, it matters how. The United States is unequivocal: International humanitarian law must be respected. Too many innocent Palestinians have been killed," Harris said. […]

"As Israel pursues its military objectives in Gaza, we believe Israel must do more to protect innocent civilians," she said.

Bloomberg: Harris Says Too Many Palestinians Have Died as Fighting Resumes

Vice President Kamala Harris said too many Palestinian civilians had died and called images of the suffering in Gaza "devastating" on Saturday as fighting between Israel and Hamas intensified following the end of a weeklong cease-fire agreement. […]

In talks with Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi, Harris said the US remained committed to pursuing the release of the roughly 137 hostages believed to remain in Gaza, including a group of US citizens. She reiterated that the US wouldn't support the forced relocation of Palestinians from Gaza — an acute concern for the leader of neighboring Egypt — and discussed planning efforts underway after the conflict concludes.

"No forcible displacement," Harris said. "No reoccupation or siege or blockade. No reduction in territory, and no use of Gaza as a platform for terrorism."