Muslim Americans and some Democratic Party activists say they will work to mobilize millions of Muslim voters and encourage them to halt donations and abstain from voting for President Joe Biden in the 2024 presidential election unless he takes immediate steps to cease fire in Gaza.
The Islamic National Democratic Council called on Biden to use his influence with Israel to broker a ceasefire by five o’clock EST (21:00 GMT) today, Tuesday.
The council includes Democratic Party leaders from states likely to decide the outcome of the elections, such as Michigan, Ohio and Pennsylvania.
2023 ceasefire ultimatum
In an open letter titled “Ultimatum for Ceasefire 2023,” Muslim leaders pledged to mobilize Muslim voters “to prevent endorsement, support or voting for any candidate who supports the Israeli attack on the Palestinian people.”
“Your administration’s unconditional support, including financing and arming, has played an important role in continuing the violence that claims civilian casualties, and has eroded the confidence of voters who previously placed their trust in you,” the council wrote in the letter.
Former US Representative Keith Ellison, the attorney general of Minnesota and the first Muslim member elected to Congress, and Representative Andre Carson from Indiana are the founding co-chairs of the council.
Growing anger among American Muslims
The letter is the latest indication of growing anger and frustration among Arab communities and Muslim Americans over Biden’s failure to denounce the Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip, which came after an attack by fighters of the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), on October 7, which says Israeli officials said it led to the deaths of 1,400 people and the taking of 239 hostages.
Medical authorities in Gaza said on Tuesday that 8,525 people, including 3,542 children, were killed in the Israeli air and ground attack that has been ongoing for more than three weeks.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday that he would not agree to any halt to the attacks on Gaza. White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said, “Hamas is the only one who will benefit from this now.”
Yesterday, Monday, Rashida Tlaib, the US representative from the state of Minnesota, who is of Palestinian origin, published a 90-second video clip on the
Bassem Al-Qara, executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) in the Sacramento Valley, said that Muslim votes may be decisive for Biden in his quest for re-election next year, noting that credit goes to Michigan’s 16 electoral votes for his victory in the 2020 elections by a small margin. It was only 2.6%.
Muslim Americans in Minnesota, which Biden plans to visit tomorrow, Wednesday, issued a similar ultimatum last week regarding a ceasefire, with a deadline set for noon on Tuesday.
They said they intend to organize a protest at the time of the president’s visit to the state, while Biden’s election campaign has not commented on the matter yet.
Biden appeals to Muslim leaders
A White House official said that Biden held a meeting last Thursday with a number of Muslim leaders, and added that administration officials continue to meet with members of the Arab and Muslim communities in light of concern about the US President’s handling of the crisis.
Although he described himself as a Zionist president, Biden appointed more Arab and Muslim Americans to political positions than any other American president, and he also appointed the first two Muslim federal judges.
Jelani Hussein, executive director of CAIR in Minnesota, said American Muslim leaders in other states considered critical for Biden in the 2024 elections will make similar demands.
“We expect Wisconsin, Ohio and other states to do the same this week,” Jilani added.
He stated that he has no choice but to vote against Biden in 2024 unless he calls for an end to the fighting. He made it clear that he was speaking for himself, not on behalf of Kiir.
Hussein said that about 70% of Muslim Americans supported Biden in 2020.
American Muslim leaders in Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin did not respond to requests for comment.
Ahmet Tekelioglu, executive director of CAIR in Philadelphia, said that Muslim Americans in the state are demanding an immediate ceasefire, but he is not aware of plans to set a final date for that.
