Biden calls on Netanyahu for Gaza ceasefire, Harris toughens tone

The search for peace in Gaza becomes increasingly difficult as violence and suffering remain the norm in the Strip
<p>El presidente de Estados Unidos, Joe Biden (der.), estrecha la mano del primer ministro israelí, Benjamin Netanyahu, durante una reunión en la Oficina Oval de la Casa Blanca en Washington, DC, el 25 de julio de 2024 - AFP/JIM WATSON</p>
US President Joe Biden (R) shakes hands with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a meeting in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, on July 25, 2024 - AFP/JIM WATSON

While tensions remain high in the Middle East, the crisis in Gaza has reached a critical point. Violence and attacks have continued in recent months, with both sides blaming each other for attacks and human rights abuses. However, the situation is complex and requires a diplomatic approach and international cooperation to find a peaceful solution. 

US President Joe Biden spoke to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and called on him to "end the violence in the Gaza Strip as soon as possible". 

<p>Protesta por la liberación inmediata de los rehenes secuestrados durante el mortífero ataque perpetrado el 7 de octubre por militantes de Gaza - REUTERS/AMMAR AWADA</p>
Protesting for the immediate release of hostages kidnapped during the deadly 7 October attack by Gaza militants - REUTERS/AMMAR AWADA

The situation in the area has become increasingly tense with numerous deaths and injuries in recent days. Netanyahu visited the US this week after 10 months of conflict and the deaths of 40,000 people in the Gaza enclave, many of them women and children. The prime minister met with Biden in the Oval Office to thank him for "50 years of public service and support for Israel". 

In addition, he also met with Vice President Kamala Harris, the current Democratic Party candidate, who stressed her "unwavering commitment" to Israel, but said she would not "remain silent" about the humanitarian cost in the occupied territories. Biden is pushing for a deal to end the violence in Gaza and believes that "both sides must make concessions". 

The situation in the enclave is critical because of the lack of infrastructure and the damage caused by Israeli air strikes, which has left many people living in poverty and despair. Vice President Harris called Netanyahu's response "unacceptable and excessive" and called for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. 

<p>La vicepresidenta de Estados Unidos, Kamala Harris, se reúne con el primer ministro israelí, Benjamin Netanyahu, en el Edificio de Oficinas Ejecutivas Eisenhower, en los jardines de la Casa Blanca, en Washington, D.C., Estados Unidos, el 25 de julio de 2024 - REUTERS/NATHAN HOWARD</p>
U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris meets with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on the White House lawn in Washington, D.C., U.S., 25 July 2024 - REUTERS/NATHAN HOWARD

The situation in the Strip is increasingly dire, with thousands of people without access to electricity, water and food due to Israeli violence and air strikes. 

The international community has condemned the violence and called on the parties involved to work together to find a peaceful solution. International leaders called for calm and negotiations to find a solution to the crisis. Ceasefire talks between the two sides are in their "final stages" and Biden has spoken to Netanyahu about the final sticking points. 

<p>La vicepresidenta de Estados Unidos, Kamala Harris, se reúne con el primer ministro israelí, Benjamin Netanyahu, en el Edificio de Oficinas Ejecutivas Eisenhower, en los jardines de la Casa Blanca, en Washington, D.C., Estados Unidos, el 25 de julio de 2024 - REUTERS/NATHAN HOWARD</p>
U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris meets with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on the White House lawn in Washington, D.C., U.S., 25 July 2024 - REUTERS/NATHAN HOWARD

The US president explained that one of his main goals for his remaining six months in office is to end the conflict. Biden has been an advocate of peace in the region and has worked to find a solution to the conflict. Vice President Harris called for an agreement with Hamas to end the violence in Gaza and described what has happened in recent months in the Palestinian territory as "devastating". 

She said she would not remain silent and would continue to speak out about the humanitarian cost in what she called "the occupied territories". Since the conflict began, Harris has been one of the most vocal critics of Israeli policy in Gaza and has called for a ceasefire in the area. "We hope that a solution to the crisis will soon be found and that the people living there will be spared further suffering," she said. 

<p>Un niño herido es trasladado al hospital Nasser, donde llegan los heridos y los muertos tras el ataque israelí al distrito suroriental de Khan Yunis, en el sur de la Franja de Gaza, el 25 de julio de 2024 - AFP/BASHAR TALEB</p>
An injured child is taken to Nasser Hospital, where the wounded and the dead arrive after the Israeli attack on the southeastern district of Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip, 25 July 2024 - AFP/BASHAR TALEB

The crisis in Gaza is a reminder of the importance of diplomacy and international cooperation in resolving conflicts. It is time for the relevant parties to work together to find peaceful solutions and the international community must support and promote these efforts. Only then can we hope for a more prosperous and peaceful future for the region and its people. 

The solution to the crisis in Gaza depends not only on the parties involved, but also on the international community and cooperation between countries. It is important that measures are taken to protect the civilian population and prevent further casualties. Peace in the region is possible if the parties involved work together and take steps to resolve the conflicts.