United States Vice President Kamala Harris tried to threaten Iran in his interview with American CBS News. Any retaliation for recent Israeli operations ‘would be a great mistake’ Repeating vows of Israel’s “unwavering commitment to this special and historic relationship,” she said, ‘We will support Israel as we always have. But this position has drawn controversy, with some asking if the encouragement of their endorsement turns a blind eye to that increasingly evident civilian suffering seeping out of Israel’s counterstrikes.
For people living through this across the region, it is ordinary families who are bearing the brunt of Israel’s actions. The reality on the ground is that thousands of civilians many women and children among them are absorbing most of the brutality, as videos from cities hardest hit by fighting show scenes, including collapsed buildings in front rooms or grieving parents. But at the same time, Harris’s words sailed over any sense of real-life human sacrifice. Only they had failed to realize her words were an uncompromising declaration of support leading some observers to fear that US policy was in a position where it could disregard human suffering.
Many observers believe her comment contradicts the voices on the ground who see the daily loss of innocent lives. They say that it is exactly at times like these, when the consequences of violence are most evident, that international leaders should call for caution and de-escalation, rather than giving an implicit green light to escalate, a recent interview.
The statements have shocked human rights advocates, wondering if US foreign policy has grown numb to the loss of life when it involves allies. By supporting Israel “as we have before,” critics argue that Harris and the administration are conveying an image of selective morality—where civilian casualties appear to be regrettable yet acceptable collateral.
In calling Iranian retaliation “a mistake,” Harris may knowingly encourage Israel to take more action, perhaps disregarding efforts to de-escalate the situation. Critics believe that this stance not only risks escalating regional tensions but also weakens the US’s role as a mediator capable of promoting peace and diplomacy.
Earlier, on Saturday, President Biden revealed that he had received advance notice from Israel about its military actions, stating, “It looks like they didn’t hit anything other than military targets. My hope is this is the end.”
A senior Biden administration official later clarified that the US did not participate in the operation, labeling Israel’s attack as an “act of self-defense.” The official noted that Biden had spoken to Prime Minister Netanyahu last week, encouraging him “to design a response that served to deter further attacks against Israel while reducing the risk of further escalation.”
Read about the journey of Israel from victim to aggressor in our previous report.
