No Ceasefire, No Vote: American Muslims Warn Biden to Act on Gaza
The National Muslim Democratic Council, consisting of Democratic Party leaders from pivotal states like Michigan, Ohio, and Pennsylvania, is urging President Biden to leverage his influence with Israel to broker a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip by 5 p.m. ET (2100 GMT) on Tuesday.
In an open letter titled "2023 Ceasefire Ultimatum," Muslim leaders have vowed to mobilize Muslim voters to withhold their endorsement, support, or votes from any candidate endorsing the Israeli offensive against the Palestinian people, Reuters news agency reported on Tuesday.
The council expressed their deep concerns regarding the administration's “unconditional support” for the Israeli regime. "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," the council wrote.
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The organization's founding co-chairs, former U.S. Representative Keith Ellison, Minnesota's attorney general, and Representative Andre Carson of Indiana, are leading this initiative.
This letter is the latest indication of mounting anger and frustration within Arab and Muslim American communities over President Biden's failure to condemn Israel's attacks on the Gaza Strip.
This is while the Israeli strikes on Gaza persist, claiming over 8,000 lives, predominantly women and children, since the conflict's initiation on October 7. More than one million people have been displaced from the densely populated enclave, known as the world's largest open-air prison, home to 2.3 million Palestinians.
‘Don’t count on our vote’
Representative Rashida Tlaib, a Palestinian-American lawmaker from Minnesota, voiced her opposition to President Biden's support for what she referred to as "Israel's genocidal campaign in Palestine," stating, "Don't count on our vote in 2024."
Basim Elkarra, executive director of the Sacramento Valley Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), emphasized the potential significance of Muslim votes for President Biden's 2024 re-election campaign, pointing out that Michigan's 16 electoral votes were won by a narrow margin of just 2.6% in 2020.
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Muslim Americans in Minnesota, where President Biden is set to visit on Wednesday, issued a similar ceasefire ultimatum last week, with a noon Tuesday deadline. They have announced plans for a protest when the president visits their state on Wednesday.
Jaylani Hussein, executive director of CAIR in Minnesota, noted that Muslim American leaders in other contested states crucial to President Biden's 2024 re-election bid are likely to make similar demands. He indicated that around 70% of Muslim Americans supported Biden in 2020, but their support in 2024 may hinge on his stance on the Gaza conflict.
Source: Agencies
