Vice President Kamala Harris met with U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres Thursday at an artificial intelligence summit in the U.K. to discuss ways to speed aid to people suffering from the war between Israel and Hamas.

The meeting in Bletchley Park unfolded as Mr. Guterres warned of a deteriorating situation for civilians in the Gaza Strip.

The White House and U.N. say aid is not reaching residents fast enough, though the Biden administration is balancing its concerns in Gaza with reassurances it supports Israel’s right to counter Hamas’ massacre last month in Israel.

“The vice president reaffirmed Israel’s right and duty to defend itself following the appalling Hamas terrorist attack of Oct. 7 as well as the importance of respecting international humanitarian law,” a White House readout of the meeting said.

The pair discussed ways to boost the delivery of food, medicine and water to the Hamas-controlled territory, according to a White House official,