Protestors knelt in prayer outside the White House on Tuesday as President Joe Biden hosted an abridged version of iftar, the meal that the White House traditionally hosts for Ramadan. In previous years, Muslim leaders attended the dinner. However, as the Biden Administration began to plan this year’s event, many of the guests declined to attend in protest against the war in Gaza.
Instead of hosting the traditional celebratory dinner, the White House opted to host a meal for only staff and a meeting with the leaders of the Muslim communities.
We previously reported that:
The Muslim American community believes that it’s unacceptable for Muslim leaders to share a meal at the White House. They believe that the Biden Administration is supporting Israel’s government in Gaza, while the Palestinians are facing a hunger crisis.
Karine Jean Pierre, White House Press Secretary confirmed that Vice President Kamala Harris and President Biden instead will meet with Muslim leaders on Tuesday. Jean-Pierre responded that the two leaders requested a meeting rather than a meal when asked why they wouldn’t attend the iftar.
Biden, Vice-President Kamalah Harris, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, and other senior officials attended the meeting, which lasted for over an hour. Three physicians, who recently treated patients in Gaza addressed the president.
Thaer Ahmad, an American-Palestinian doctor who had served in Gaza as a volunteer, announced that he would leave the meeting to protest. Ahmad said that he had told Biden Israel’s imminent ground invasion of Rafah was going to be a “bloodbath and a massacre.”
Before leaving, Ahmad gave the president, along with his photo, a letter written by an 8-year-old orphaned child from Rafah. Rafah is a city that Israel has marked as a target for future military operations. The New York Times translated the letter.
Rafah is suffering because the tanks can easily enter our tents and run us over. We do not want to see suffering and massacres. We want to be safe and live like the rest of the children in the world. Stop this war now, Biden. It’s time to stop.
Ahmad spoke for six minutes, before announcing that he was leaving. He noted that Biden’s response to his protest had been subdued. Biden only responded with, “I Understand.”
When asked by White House Press Secretary Karine Jean Pierre about Biden’s response to Ahmad’s decision to leave on Wednesday, she said that the President “respects [their] freedom to peacefully demonstrate.”
Ahmad was already prepared to leave the meeting at the beginning of the session.
Ahmad said,
I won’t yell. I won’t throw anything. I’m going to leave calmly. That’s exactly what I did.
He cited his concern about recent news reports concerning U.S. weapon sales to Israel as a reason for this protest. Ahmad will visit Gaza at the end of this month.
Biden replied that Israel would not agree to a ceasefire that was permanent and immediate in Gaza because it is concerned about the hostages still being held by Hamas.
Under international law, the taking of hostages constitutes a crime.
