00:00Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris is facing tough questions from critics following
00:08the discovery of six Israeli hostages in a tunnel in Rafa.
00:14The hostages were recovered dead overnight August 1, sparking intense debate about the
00:21Biden-Harris administration's past stance on Israeli military actions in the region.
00:28Earlier this year, Israel expressed intentions to launch a major military operation in Rafa,
00:36a known Hamas stronghold.
00:38The White House, however, strongly opposed this move.
00:42In March, President Joe Biden, during an interview with MSNBC, stated that an Israeli invasion
00:49of Rafa would be a red line for his administration.
00:53The president hinted that crossing this line could result in a cut-off of some offensive
00:59weapon supplies to Israel.
01:04Vice President Harris echoed these sentiments in an interview with ABC News, where she emphasised
01:10that a major military operation in Rafa would be a huge mistake.
01:16She notably remarked,
01:18I have been studying the maps, suggesting a detailed consideration of the geographic
01:24and strategic complexities involved.
01:27Harris also indicated that US would not rule out consequences if Israel proceeded with
01:34such an action.
01:36Hamas has taken approximately 250 hostages, including American citizens.
01:42Israel claims that about 100 hostages remain with Hamas, with around two-thirds of them
01:48still alive.
01:50On Sunday's edition of Meet the Press, Republican Senator Tom Cotton criticised the administration's
01:57stance on Israel.
01:59Cotton argued that the Biden-Harris administration should have allowed Israel to take decisive
02:05action in Rafa from the beginning.
02:08He accused them of placing more pressure on Israel than Hamas and Iran.
02:15Senator Cotton's remarks reflect a growing sentiment among critics, who believe that
02:19the administration's approach may have hampered Israel's ability to secure its citizens and
02:26combat terrorism effectively.
02:30Despite the criticism, President Biden has been clear in its support for Israel since
02:35the deadly October 7 attack by Hamas, which is considered the deadliest attack on Jewish
02:41people since the Holocaust.
02:44Vice President Harris, now the Democratic presidential nominee, has largely aligned
02:50her positions with Biden's over the years.
02:54However, her recent comments on Palestinian statehood and the ongoing war in Gaza have
03:00attracted attention, as well as scrutiny.
03:04As the presidential race heats up, Kamala Harris' position on Israel and Gaza will
03:09undoubtedly continue to be a focal point of discussion, both within the Democratic Party
03:16and among the American electorate.
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