Muslim Americans Demand Ceasefire in Gaza, Voting Rights from Joe Biden
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Growing anger among Arab and Muslim Americans as President Biden fails to condemn Israel’s Gaza Strip attacks post-Hamas incident on October 7.
Last Thursday, President Joe Biden met with a few Muslim leaders. (Photo: Reuters)
Muslim Americans and Democratic Party activists are demanding immediate action from President Joe Biden to secure a ceasefire in Gaza. The National Muslim Democratic Council, consisting of Democratic Party leaders from crucial states like Michigan, Ohio, and Pennsylvania, has issued an open letter titled “2023 Ceasefire Ultimatum.”
In the letter, they pledge to mobilize Muslim voters to withhold support, endorsements, and votes from any candidate who endorses the Israeli offensive against the Palestinian people.
They criticize Biden’s administration for its unconditional support of Israel, which they believe has perpetuated violence and eroded trust among voters who previously supported him.
The letter reflects the growing anger and frustration within Arab and Muslim American communities regarding Biden’s failure to condemn Israel’s attacks on Gaza.
It comes after an attack by Hamas terrorists from Gaza on October 7, which Israeli officials claim resulted in the deaths of 1,400 people and the taking of 239 hostages.
Medical authorities in Gaza have reported a significant number of casualties, with 8,306 people, including 3,457 children, killed in the ongoing conflict.
Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stated that he will not agree to a cessation of the attacks on Gaza, while US national security spokesman John Kirby has argued that Hamas would be the only one to benefit from a ceasefire at this time.
Representative Rashida Tlaib, a Palestinian American lawmaker from Minnesota, released a video criticizing Biden’s support for what she called “Israel’s genocidal campaign in Palestine” and warned that Muslim Americans should not count on their vote in 2024.
Muslim American community leaders in Minnesota have issued a similar ceasefire ultimatum with a deadline, planning a protest during Biden’s visit to the state. Muslim American leaders in other contested states crucial to Biden’s potential reelection, such as Wisconsin and Ohio, are expected to make similar demands.
Biden’s reelection campaign has not yet commented on the ultimatum. However, the White House has stated that administration officials continue to meet with Arab and Muslim community members concerned about Biden’s handling of the crisis.
It is worth noting that although Biden describes himself as a Zionist, he has appointed more Arab Americans and Muslims to political posts than any of his predecessors, including the first two Muslim federal judges.
Jaylani Hussein, executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) in Minnesota, has stated that Muslim American leaders in other crucial states will make similar demands. In the 2020 election, around 70% of Muslim Americans supported Biden.
Muslim American community leaders in Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin have not yet responded to requests for comment.
Ahmet Tekelioglu, executive director of CAIR in Philadelphia, has stated that Muslim Americans in the state are calling for an immediate ceasefire, although he is not aware of any plans to set a deadline.
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