US Vice President Kamala Harris' stark warning to Israel: halt Gaza ground offensive or face consequences

Biden's deputy delivers strongest rebuke yet as US urges immediate ceasefire to avoid 'significant loss of life'

In a significant shift in the Biden administration's rhetoric, US Vice President Kamala Harris on Sunday delivered a stark warning to Israel that it should halt plans for a major ground offensive in the southern Gaza Strip, or face consequences.

Speaking at the Munich Security Conference, Harris said the US was "deeply concerned" about the potential for a ground invasion, which she said would lead to a "significant loss of life" and "further deteriorate" an already dire humanitarian situation in Gaza.

Harris's remarks represent the strongest rebuke yet from a senior US official to Israel's military campaign in Gaza, which has killed at least 215 Palestinians, including 63 children, since it began on May 10.

The Biden administration has been urging Israel and Hamas to agree to an immediate ceasefire, but so far those efforts have been unsuccessful.

Harris said the US was "committed to working with all parties to achieve a sustainable ceasefire" and called on both sides to "exercise restraint and take steps to de-escalate the situation."

She also said the US was "deeply concerned" about the safety of civilians in Gaza and called on Israel to take "all possible measures" to avoid civilian casualties.

Harris's remarks come as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is considering a ground offensive in Gaza, which would be the first such operation since the 2014 war.

The Israeli military has amassed troops and equipment on the border with Gaza, and Netanyahu has said he is prepared to order a ground invasion if necessary to stop Hamas rocket fire.

However, the US has warned that a ground offensive would be a "major escalation" and could lead to a wider conflict.

Harris's remarks reflect the growing concern within the Biden administration about the escalating violence in Gaza and the potential for a wider conflict in the region.