Arab, Muslim, and Palestinian rights advocates in the United States have strongly condemned Washington’s unwavering support for Israel’s war in Gaza. They have criticized the media and politicians for dehumanizing Palestinians and have expressed concern about possible hate incidents against Arab and Muslim Americans.
Nihad Awad, the executive director of the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR), directly addressed President Joe Biden, accusing him of failing to recognize the humanity of Palestinians. Awad called out Biden for essentially giving Israel the green light to commit war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Biden, who considers himself a Zionist, has consistently expressed support for Israel. Despite the ongoing bombardment of Palestinian civilians in Gaza, he has focused on ensuring Israel’s military needs to defend itself.
In a news conference held in Washington, DC, Awad urged President Biden to take action and put an end to the violence. He emphasized that the President has the power to prevent a potential mass crime and genocide from occurring.
The conflict began on October 7 when the Palestinian group Hamas launched an attack on Israel from Gaza, resulting in numerous casualties. In response, Israel initiated a bombing campaign that has claimed the lives of almost 1,900 Palestinians, including over 500 children. Additionally, Israel has imposed a complete blockade on Gaza, preventing essential supplies from entering the territory.
Human Rights Watch (HRW) has accused Israel of violating international law by using white phosphorus munitions in populated areas like Gaza. Israel also sparked outrage by ordering over 1.1 million Palestinians to flee within 24 hours, leading to further condemnation from rights groups.
At the news conference, Awad highlighted the historical context of the conflict, stressing that it did not begin on October 7. He described Gaza as the world’s largest open-air prison, pointing out the violence, discrimination, and ethnic cleansing that Palestinians have endured for decades.
Awad emphasized that Muslims, Palestinians, and Americans believe in the value and sanctity of every human life and the need for it to be protected.
Chris Habiby, director of national government affairs and advocacy at the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC), called for an immediate de-escalation to halt the violence. He criticized US elected leaders for perpetuating Israeli lies, advocating for a religious war, and openly calling for the destruction of densely populated areas.
Habiby highlighted a culture of fear among Arab-American communities due to inflammatory rhetoric from politicians. He cited incidents of assault against Palestine solidarity demonstrators and expressed the need for elected leaders to remember the humanity of Palestinians and work towards a fair resolution.
Ayah Ziyadeh, advocacy director at American Muslims for Palestine, accused US politicians of demonizing Palestinians to provide cover for Israel’s egregious crimes. She identified the root causes of the violence as decades of Israeli military occupation, apartheid, and US complicity.