After the Muslim leaders declined an earlier offer from the White House to attend a Ramadan meal, a Palestinian American doctor left a reduced-length private meeting between them and President Joe Biden on Tuesday night.
This incident highlighted the resentment that many members of the Arab American community feel against Biden for his backing of the war between Israel and Hamas.
Muslim Leaders' Concerns After White House Meeting
Dr. Thaer Ahmad, an emergency physician with intimate knowledge of the situation in the Gaza Strip, met on Tuesday with President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, and other officials from the White House to address the Israeli-Palestinian issue.
During an interview with CNN following the meeting, Ahmad expressed his deep concerns, stating, "I come from a community that is deeply affected by the ongoing turmoil, grieving the losses and broken-hearted over the events of the past six months."
Moreover, he disclosed that he had talked with members of the UN Security Council the common conviction that the White House's designation of Rafah as a red line may result in an immediate end to violence. Ahmad stressed how critical it is that President Biden adopt a strong posture opposing the escalation of hostilities in Rafah.
Officials from the White House have previously admitted that President Biden has made attempts to persuade Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to put civilian security ahead of military action in Rafah.
Ahmad decided that he needed to express the pain that the Palestinian American community feels since President Biden's remarks on Gaza lacked an explanation. He viewed his choice to leave the meeting as a metaphor for the community's apparent disregard and alienation from the official response, according to CBS News.
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Doctor Walks Out During Meeting With Biden, Harris
Ahmad's decision to walk out was driven by the desire to underscore the pain and suffering experienced by individuals in Gaza. Despite acknowledging the risks involved in returning to the conflict zone, he expressed his determination to go back to Gaza to provide medical assistance, even amidst the prevailing dangers.
After the meeting, President Biden, Vice President Harris, and top administration officials joined a group of Muslim American community leaders for a smaller iftar supper. This smaller-scale celebration was different from the White House's prior bigger Ramadan-related activities.
The importance of the current issue has been observed by President Biden and Vice President Harris, given the dispute among invited Arab American and Muslim American leaders about taking part in celebrations when Gaza is going through a humanitarian crisis.
President Biden, according to a White House official, conveyed his sympathies for the innocent lives killed in the conflict and repeated his determination to interact with the Muslim and Arab American communities in order to address their concerns.
Dr. Thaer Ahmad is persistent in his goal despite the challenges and the dangers he confronts while conducting his humanitarian work in Gaza, even in the face of suspicions over the use of weapons supplied by the United States in the fight.
Ahmad's dedication to helping people in need in the midst of the crisis shows an increased sense of responsibility and empathy for the people affected, NBC News reported.
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