Harris claims she will ‘stand up’ for Israel — while pushing for a Gaza cease-fire deal

Kamala Harris said Thursday that she will “stand up for Israel’s right to defend itself” as president — while at the same time saying a cease-fire in Gaza must get “done.” “Now is the time to get a hostage deal and a cease-fire deal done!” she said to loud applause while delivering her presidential nomination acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. “And let me be clear, I will always stand up for Israel’s right to defend itself and I will always ensure Israel has the ability to defend itself,” the vice president added. Harris voiced sympathy for Israelis in her speech, recalling the massacre of about 1,200 people that started the war, and Palestinian civilians who have died following Israel’s invasion of the Gaza Strip after Hamas’ surprise attack on Oct. 7, 2023. “The people of Israel must never again face the horror that the terrorist organization Hamas caused on Oct. 7, including unspeakable sexual violence and the massacre of young people at a mu