Joe Biden's chances of re-election in 2024 take a hit as Muslim leaders say they may not vote for him over Palestine stance
Dearborn, Michigan: US President Joe Biden’s chances of re-election in 2024 have fallen in jeopardy as the Muslim community leaders from several swing states have pledged to withdraw support for the POTUS due to his stance over the Israel-Hamas conflict.
Democrats in Michigan have forewarned the White House that Biden's handling of the Israel-Hamas conflict may cause him to lose enough support from the Arab American community to affect the results of the 2024 presidential contest.
The warning came as leaders from Michigan, Minnesota, Arizona, Wisconsin, Florida, Georgia, Nevada, and Pennsylvania assembled behind a lectern that said, "Abandon Biden, ceasefire now,” in Dearborn, Michigan.
During the meet, Minneapolis-based Jaylani Hussein, who assisted in planning the conference, expressed that Biden's hesitation to demand a ceasefire has irreparably harmed his relationship with the American Muslim community.
Joe Biden’s stance over Israel-Hamas war
Israel and Hamas have been at war since October 7, 2023, when the Palestinian militant organization launched thousands of missiles on the Jewish state and launched dozens of ground attacks, killing 1,400 people and kidnapping others.
In retaliation, the Israeli military has reportedly been pounding Gaza where they have killed more than 15,000 Palestinians, roughly two-thirds of them women and minors.
After months of bombarding, Israel and Hamas finally agreed to a ceasefire on November 24. Fifty hostages, mostly women and children, will be freed in groups by Hamas for four days in a row as part of a temporary ceasefire mediated by Qatar with assistance from the United States and Egypt.
In exchange, Israel is releasing 150 Palestinian prisoners who had been detained previously. Qatar has expressed hope that the arrangement can be prolonged as additional captives can be released.
Even with the news of a temporary humanitarian pause, Muslim leaders are saying Biden is not doing enough in light of Israel's relentless bombardment of the territory in the wake of Hamas' October 7 attack.
Previously, a tweet from the President’s campaign account triggered speculation and debate about a potential shift in the US stance on the Israel-Hamas conflict.
"Hamas unleashed a terrorist attack because they fear nothing more than Israelis and Palestinians living side by side in peace. To continue down the path of terror, violence, killing, and war is to give Hamas what they seek. We can't do that,” the tweet stated.
Muslim leader’s response over Biden’s stance
During the conference, Hussein expressed that communities’ anger over Biden’s stance is “is beyond belief.” “Families and children are being wiped out with our tax dollars,” Hussein said, adding, “What we are witnessing today is the tragedy upon tragedy.”
“The anger in our community is beyond belief. One of the things that made us even more angry is the fact that most of us actually voted for President Biden. I even had one incident where a religious leader asked me, ‘How do I get my 2020 ballot so I can destroy it?'” he told the Associated Press.
Previously, White House spokesperson Andrew Bates stated that the Biden administration has pushed for humanitarian pauses in the fighting to get humanitarian aid into Gaza.
“Fighting against the poison of antisemitism and standing up for Israel’s sovereign right to defend itself have always been core values for President Biden,” the statement added.
However, officials stated on Saturday that the community's support for Biden has diminished as more Palestinian men, women, and children are slain in Gaza.
“We are not powerless as American Muslims. We are powerful. We don’t only have the money, but we have the actual votes. And we will use that vote to save this nation from itself,” Hussein said at the conference.
The Muslim community leaders’ condemnation of Biden does not indicate support for former President Donald Trump, the clear front-runner in the Republican primary, Hussein clarified.
“We don’t have two options. We have many options. And we’re going to exercise that,” he said.