I won't be silent on harrowing crisis in Gaza Strip, says Harris

KAMALA HARRIS stated that she would "not be silent" over the harrowing humanitarian situation in Gaza after meeting Israel's prime minister at the White House.

- Rachael Burford and Nicholas Cecil

The likely Democratic Party presidential election nominee said she believed Israel had a right to defend itself but raised "serious concerns" with Benjamin Netanyahu about the "scale of suffering" in the Palestinian territory.

The discussions came after Mr Netanyahu met President Joe Biden, who is pressing for a ceasefire and hostage release deal to be agreed by Israel and Hamas. Ms Harris said Israel had a right to defend itself, but added "how it does so matters".

She said: "I also expressed with the prime minister my serious concern about the scale of human suffering in Gaza, including the death of far too many innocent civilians.