Kamala Harris would "pursue an evolution rather than a revolution" in America's relationships in the world if she becomes president, Josh Rogin said at The Washington Post. Vice presidents don't make foreign policy — they help implement a president's vision. Harris' agenda may offer "continuity with the Biden administration and modulation where his policy has fallen short," said Rogin.

Harris has signaled that her candidacy offers a "chance to reset" a Middle East policy that has alienated progressive Democrats, said NBC News. Israel has a "right to defend itself," she said last month. But "we cannot allow ourselves to become numb to the suffering" of Palestinians. That's a sign that her foreign policy views differ "more on tone than on substance" from Biden's approach. 

'Stress-tested'
"She doesn't really have a background in defense or foreign policy," one former official told Politico. But she has acted as a "surrogate" for Biden on the world stage, including at a 2022 security summit where she voiced support for Ukraine ahead of Russia's invasion. "Frankly, she has been stress-tested," said Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.).

Harris has been "more involved in foreign policy than we realize," Fred Kaplan said at Slate. As vice president, she met with more than 150 world leaders. She helped smooth over France's anger amid a nuclear submarine deal with Australia and aided in bringing the Philippines back into America's orbit in the Pacific. She's "not a foreign-policy wonk," said Ian Bremmer at Eurasia Group. But there's "no question she has played an active role" in foreign policy issues.

'Strategically consistent'
Then there's the elephant in the room, China. Donald Trump's presidency saw a "far more confrontational approach" to Beijing, said Foreign Policy. But Biden's policies followed along much the same lines, reflecting a bipartisan consensus that China "must now be treated as a major adversary." From China's perspective, the differences between Harris and Trump would be mainly stylistic but "strategically consistent."

Harris' "life experience" is the best guide to predicting her foreign policy, Anne-Marie Slaughter said at the Financial Times. Her background as a prosecutor gives Harris a "steeliness" toward foes like Russia, in addition to a "focus on victims as well as perpetrators." This makes her likely to base her foreign policy on a notion of "peace through strength," said Slaughter. "Call it a new mix of might and right."

It was recently revealed that United Nations staff members for the organization's Palestinian relief arm may have played a role in Hamas' Oct. 7 attack on Israel. The revelation came following an investigation into U.N. employees. 

What did the investigation find? 
The investigation concluded nine people "may have been involved" in the Oct. 7 attack, according to a statement from the U.N., and the "employment of these individuals will be terminated in the interests" of the U.N. All nine worked for the U.N. Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), a branch that aims to support Palestinian refugees.

The investigation came at the behest of Israel. The country alleged earlier this year that UNRWA members were involved in the attack, which left about 1,200 people dead and saw another 251 taken hostage by Hamas. "For us, any participation in the attacks is a tremendous betrayal of the sort of work that we are supposed to be doing on behalf of the Palestinian people," U.N. Deputy Spokesperson Farhan Haq said in a statement. 

UNRWA officials acknowledged the investigation's findings but disputed the conclusions. The UNRWA will "continue lifesaving and critical services for Palestine refugees in Gaza and across the region, especially in the face of the ongoing war," Philippe Lazzarini, the commissioner-general of UNRWA, said in a statement. Lazzarini has "previously charged Israel with an 'insidious' campaign to destroy UNRWA and has repeatedly said that Israel refused to supply evidence of its charges," said The Washington Post. 

The bigger picture
This recent revelation is the latest in a slew of Israeli accusations against UNRWA. The country first accused 12 members of the organization of participating in the attacks. Israel then "stepped up its accusations," saying "over 450 UNRWA staff were military operatives in Gaza terrorist groups," said Reuters. 

Questions remain as to the validity of these charges, which UNRWA has continually pushed back against. But as a result of the accusations, at least nine countries have paused funding to the organization.