Kamala Harris criticizes Biden administration's failure to curb Israel's conduct during Gaza war

Former US vice president Kamala Harris criticized the Biden administration's response to Israel's war against Hamas in Gaza during the 2026 Asan Memorial Lecture in Seoul, stating the US failed to uphold its obligation to international law and should have acted sooner to curtail Israel's conduct.

Former US vice president Kamala Harris delivered a sharp critique of the Biden administration's handling of Israel's war against Hamas in Gaza during the 2026 Asan Memorial Lecture in Seoul on Wednesday. Harris stated that the United States failed to uphold its obligation to international law and that the Biden administration's response was a failure in that regard. She specifically called out the 'failure to use our leverage to curtail the Israeli government's horrific conduct in the war in Gaza,' arguing the administration should have acted 'sooner and more fully.' Harris also criticized the current Trump administration, saying it 'offers Netanyahu a blank check.' Beyond Gaza, she discussed the evolution of American foreign policy, arguing that Cold War-era orthodoxies are insufficient for modern challenges where economic innovation, markets, and technology hold greater influence. She emphasized the need to strengthen alliances in response to growing ties between China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea. Harris expressed confidence Democrats will win the upcoming US midterm elections but avoided directly answering whether she is considering a 2028 presidential run, stating '2028, from my perspective, doesn't matter if we don't win 2026.'