No plans or intentions to send troops to Israel or Gaza: US vice president

By Irmak Akcan

US Vice President Kamala Harris said that Washington has no plans or intentions to send troops to Israel or Gaza.

"We have absolutely no intention nor do we have any plans to send combat troops into Israel or Gaza, period," Harris said in an interview with CBS News aired on Sunday.

She stressed the importance of adhering to the rules of war in the Israel-Palestine conflict and of continuing humanitarian aid flows to Gaza.

“A terrorist organization, Hamas, slaughtered hundreds of young people at a concert. By most estimates, at least 1,400 Israelis are dead. Israel, without any question, has a right to defend itself,” Harris said.

"Hamas and Palestinians should not be equated," she said, adding Palestinians deserve "equal measures of safety and security."

The US vice president also urged Iran to stay out of the conflict.

Israel has launched a massive campaign of aerial bombardment of the Gaza Strip following a cross-border attack by Palestinian group Hamas into Israeli territory on Oct. 7.

More than 9,500 people have been killed in the conflict, including 8,005 Palestinians, mostly children and women, and over 1,538 Israelis.

Israeli army spokesperson Daniel Hagari on Saturday announced that Israeli forces were expanding their operations and moving to the "next phase of our war against Hamas," which includes ground operations.

Gaza’s 2.3 million residents are grappling with shortages of food, water, fuel and medicine due to Israel’s blockade of the enclave.

*Alperen Aktas contributed to the story from Istanbul