Harris strikes balance on Gaza at DNC, in her most extended remarks on war

As Harris described a postwar future in which Palestinians can “realize their right to dignity, security, freedom and self-determination,” the crowd erupted with one of the loudest cheers of the night.

Harris has expressed support for Israel’s right to defend itself before, but she has generally spoken more forcefully than Biden about the plight of Palestinians, tens of thousands of whom have been killed in a months-long Israeli military operation that has plunged Gaza into a humanitarian crisis. She has also held Israel more directly responsible for the high civilian death toll in Gaza and slow pace of humanitarian aid.

The careful comments in her acceptance speech Thursday — emphasizing Israel’s right to defend itself but also directly addressing the suffering in Gaza, including starvation — highlight the delicate balance she must navigate in the final two months before Election Day.

If elected president, Harris said she would also continue Washington’s support for Israel’s right to defend itself, “because the people of Israel must never again face the horror that a terrorist organization called Hamas caused” on Oct. 7, when Hamas militants launched a cross-border attack on Israel, killing about 1,200 people and taking roughly 250 hostages, about 70 of whom are believed to still be alive in captivity.

On the previous night at the convention, the parents of Hersh Goldberg-Polin, an American taken hostage by Hamas, shared their son’s story. They were greeted by chants of “Bring them home!” And as they spoke, images of the eight American hostages believed to still be held captive in Gaza appeared behind them.

Pro-Palestinian protesters have staged rallies in Chicago during this week’s convention. Thousands convened almost every day about a half-mile from Chicago’s United Center, and several speakers treaded carefully when addressing the war during each evening’s lineup.

Niha Masih and Kelsey Ables contributed to this report.