Some Muslim and Arab-American groups are threatening to withhold donations and votes in favour of President Joe Biden’s re-election in 2024 unless he takes immediate steps to secure a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.
The National Muslim Democratic Council, which influences elections in states such as Michigan, Ohio and Pennsylvania, called on Biden to influence Israel to push for a ceasefire by 5pm (9pm GMT) on Tuesday.
Muslim leaders sent a 2023 Ceasefire Ultimatum letter to the US President promising to mobilise “Muslim, Arab and allied voters” to “withhold endorsement, support or votes for any candidate who endorses the Israeli offensive against the Palestinian people.”
Your administration’s unconditional support, encompassing funding and armaments, has played a significant role in perpetuating the violence that is causing civilian casualties and has eroded trust in voters who previously put their faith in you.
American Muslim civic group Emgage discovered that nearly 1.1 million Muslims participated in the 2020 election. According to the Associated Press, 64% of Muslims voted for Biden and 35% cast their ballots for his Republican rival, Donald Trump.
Another 3.7 million Americans are of Arab descent, and the poll released Tuesday shows a significant decline in support for Biden and Democrats among that group.
White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre reported that Biden met with several Muslim leaders last Thursday. She declined to comment on the poll, but told reporters that the president respected the views of American Muslims, who “endured a disproportionate number … of hate-fuelled attacks.”
Jaylani Hussein, executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) in Minnesota, stated that he had no choice but to vote against Biden in 2024 if the president did not work to end the fighting in the Gaza Strip. Hussein noted that he was speaking as an individual and not on behalf of CAIR, which is banned from political campaigning.
Local pro-Palestinian groups planned a protest in Minneapolis on Wednesday during Biden’s visit to Minnesota to promote his administration’s investments in the rural sector.
American Arab and Muslim communities expressed disappointment that the president did not condemn Israel’s attacks on the Palestinian enclave following the surprise attack by Hamas militants on October 7.
Biden stated that Israel had the right to protect its citizens, noting that the country was also obliged to protect innocent Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip who became victims of the conflict between Israel and Hamas.
Rashida Tlaib, a Palestinian American lawmaker from Michigan, posted a 90-second video on X, formerly Twitter, on Monday condemning Biden’s support.
“Don’t count on our vote in 2024.”
Gaza’s Health Ministry reports that Israeli attacks have killed 8,525 people, including 3,542 children, since October 7. UN officials claim that more than 1.4 million of Gaza’s civilian population of about 2.3 million people have been left homeless.
On October 7, Hamas announced Operation Al-Aqsa Flood against Israel. The group’s militants then infiltrated into Israel and started launching rockets from the Gaza Strip. In response, Israel launched Operation Iron Sword, carrying out a total siege of the Gaza Strip and conducting aerial strikes.
