Reports emerged on October 15 that Yahya Sinwar, the leader of Hamas and architect of the October 7 massacre in Israel, had been killed by an Israeli drone strike.
This event has sparked significant media attention, particularly regarding the response from U.S. political leaders.
In the wake of Sinwar’s death, Kamala Harris faced scrutiny [1] over her stance on the ongoing Israeli-Hamas conflict.
Harris has been walking a fine line, attempting to balance the expectations of the Jewish-American community, which plays a vital role in her political support, while also addressing her base that leans towards pro-Palestinian sentiments.
Sky News host Erin Molan criticized Kamala during a segment, highlighting what she described as hypocrisy in the Vice President’s comments regarding Israeli military actions.
Molan pointed out Harris’s previous warnings to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu against entering Rafah, the location where Sinwar was ultimately killed.
“Madam VP, you did everything in your power to prevent Israel from going into Rafah,” Molan stated. “You weren’t even present when Netanyahu addressed Congress. You demanded a ceasefire, asking Israel to lie down and die!”
@Erin_Molan [2] brilliantly destroys @KamalaHarris [3] for trying to take credit for Israel’s brave defense of its people, by killing Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar.
“We? We will always bring you to justice?”😳
“Madam Vice President, you have done everything in your power to stop Israel… pic.twitter.com/3m4trGhtzF [4]
— PattyMI (@PattyLovesTruth) October 19, 2024 [5]
Longer clip for context:
Take a bow, @Erin_Molan [2] – magnificent.
Why are Sky News Australia so often amazing whilst Sky News UK act like the propaganda arm of Palestinian extremists? pic.twitter.com/64Fd6qodsg [6]
— Andrew Fox (@Mr_Andrew_Fox) October 18, 2024 [7]
Harris’s comments appear contradictory, as she recently praised Israel’s operation against Sinwar, insinuating that the U.S. may have played a role in the successful strike.
This has raised eyebrows, given her earlier warnings to Israel about potential consequences should they escalate military action in the region.
In March, Harris publicly warned against an Israeli invasion of Rafah, emphasizing that the U.S. would not rule out “consequences” if the IDF moved forward with a large-scale operation in the area.
Kamala Harris, March 2024: “I have studied the maps… It would be a huge mistake for Israel 🇮🇱 to go into Rafah” 👇
Thank God @netanyahu [8] ignored Kamala. Today Sinwar was eliminated in Rafah.
pic.twitter.com/X0ykQK1nWL [9]— Dr. Eli David (@DrEliDavid) October 17, 2024 [10]
However, following Sinwar’s death, she commended Israel’s efforts in eliminating a key figure responsible for the October 7 attacks that resulted in over 1,200 deaths.
The Israeli Defense Forces confirmed that Sinwar was killed during a firefight in Rafah. They only confirmed his identity after conducting a DNA analysis following the operation.
Earlier this year, the Biden-Harris administration expressed strong opposition to any full-scale military operations by Israel in Rafah, labeling such actions as a “red line.”
Biden trying to claim credit for Sinwar’s killing, which happened in Rafah — which he pressured Israel for months not to invade, warning it was a “red line.” https://t.co/8ANw47s7Wo [11]
— Philip Klein (@philipaklein) October 17, 2024 [12]
“The defense of Israel is still critical,” President Joe Biden tells Jonathan Capehart. “But there’s red lines that if he crosses…cannot have 30,000 more Palestinians dead.” pic.twitter.com/0SAPJySAYS [13]
— MSNBC (@MSNBC) March 9, 2024 [14]
Reports indicate that the U.S. urged Israel not to proceed with an invasion, yet the dynamics have shifted following the recent events.
As the political landscape evolves, Harris’s responses and actions are closely monitored, especially in light of the upcoming election.
Her administration’s handling of the Israel-Hamas conflict continues to elicit varied responses from political analysts and the media.