Biden’s White House Ramadan event disrupted due to Gaza conflict

When the White House invited Muslim community leaders for a luncheon this week to commemorate the holy month of Ramadan, the response came in quickly: Decline. Decline. Decline.

Many of the invitees, concerned about President Biden’s backing for Israel’s attack on Gaza, refused to attend an iftar meal with the president on Tuesday evening while so many Palestinians were under siege.

“How can we talk to you about famine and starvation over bread and steak?” remarked Dr. Thaer Ahmad, a Palestinian-American doctor who visited Gaza in January.

The incident showed how difficult the conflict in Gaza has become for Mr. Biden, who is increasingly critical of Israel yet continues to oppose efforts from inside his party to impose limits on arms sales to the country.

Biden's White House Ramadan event disrupted due to Gaza conflict

When it became evident that the Ramadan event would be contentious, the White House reacted quickly, hosting a smaller meal for staff members and a separate meeting for Muslim community leaders such as Dr. Ahmad.

Mr. Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, and other senior officials attended the more than an hour-long discussion. Three doctors who had just treated patients in Gaza were among those who spoke with the president.

According to Gazan health authorities, the war has killed more than 32,000 Palestinians.

Dr. Ahmad stated that he informed Mr. Biden that Israel’s upcoming ground invasion of Rafah would result in a “blood bath and a massacre.” He also handed the president a letter from an 8-year-old girl in Gaza who had lost her entire family in the conflict.

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“We in Rafah are suffering a lot because we live in a very small tent, and the tank can enter and run me over,” the girl said in the letter, which The New York Times got and translated.

The message continued: “We do not desire massacres or suffering. We want to be safe and live like the rest of the world’s children. Please, Biden, halt this war; it is enough.

After speaking for roughly six minutes, Dr. Ahmad informed the president that he was leaving.

“I said, ‘Out of respect for my community, and out of respect for the many people who are grieving, and who are in a lot of pain, I have to walk out of this meeting.'”

He stated that Mr. Biden replied that he understood.

Biden's White House Ramadan event disrupted due to Gaza conflict

“Part of me wanted to express the frustration that the entire community has, the anger and the resentment,” Dr. Ahmad said in a statement. “But also part of me wanted to get up and walk out on the decision-makers, and give them an idea of how it feels to have somebody walk away from them.”

It was a far cry from last year’s party at the White House to commemorate the conclusion of Ramadan, which gathered hundreds of community leaders, White House personnel, and politicians who ate hors d’oeuvres and snapped photos with the President. Before Mr. Biden began speaking, one of the attendees exclaimed, “We love you!”

This year, while the Biden administration held their reduced meeting and meal, protesters knelt outside the White House in prayer.

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Tuesday’s meeting with Muslim leaders and community members was one of dozens the administration has had in recent months, both internally with personnel and with outside groups, in an effort to quell popular outrage over the war.

Mr. Biden’s position has infuriated key factions in his constituency, notably young people, Black voters, and progressives.

The White House press secretary, Karine Jean-Pierre, declined to comment on the circumstances of Tuesday night’s meeting on Wednesday, citing privacy concerns. However, she stated that the president understands that it was a “deeply painful moment for many in the Arab and Muslim communities.”

Biden's White House Ramadan event disrupted due to Gaza conflict

“The president also expressed his commitment to continue working to secure an immediate cease-fire as part of the deal to free the hostages and significantly increase humanitarian aid into Gaza,” the spokesperson said. “And the president made clear that he mourns the loss of every innocent life in this conflict — Palestinian and Israeli.”

When asked about Dr. Ahmad’s walkout, Ms. Jean-Pierre stated that the president recognized the right to peaceful protest.

Salima Suswell, CEO of the Black Muslim Leadership Council, who also attended the meeting, said she warned Mr. Biden about the “moral quandary” that members of the Black Muslim community are experiencing because of the conflict in Gaza.

“Black people identify and somewhat relate to this issue that involves oppression and the dehumanization of people,” she said. “Our ancestors lived through 400 years of it.”

She stated that Mr. Biden expressed a commitment to the Black community.

Ms. Suswell, who stayed for the entire conference, said attendees recounted their experiences from the ground in Gaza. According to her, one of the doctors brought out photographs of children.

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Both Mr. Biden and Ms. Harris stated that they wanted the war to stop as quickly as feasible. When asked about calling for an immediate and permanent cease-fire, Mr. Biden stated that Israel would object due to worries for the captives.

“They both said, ‘We don’t want to see this war continue,’” Ms. Suswell explained.

Reference

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