International Courant
Washington, DC – Arab, Muslim and Palestinian rights advocates in the USA have denounced Washington’s unconditional assist for Israel’s struggle in Gaza and condemned the “dehumanization” of Palestinians by the media and politicians.
Throughout a press convention on Friday, representatives of a number of advocacy teams additionally sounded the alarm in regards to the prospect of hate incidents towards Arab and Muslim Individuals.
Nihad Awad, the chief director of the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR), denounced President Joe Biden, accusing him of failing to acknowledge the humanity of Palestinians.
“You are not serving to,” Awad mentioned, as if addressing Biden himself. “You might be primarily giving Israel the inexperienced gentle to commit genocide, struggle crimes and crimes towards humanity. You have got failed us as Americans. You have got failed us as Palestinians. And you’ve got failed the world group.”
Biden, who calls himself a Zionist, has constantly expressed assist for Israel. In a speech this week, the president promised to make sure Israel has the army must “defend itself,” whereas barely mentioning the Palestinian civilians being bombed in Gaza.
“We name on you, Mr. President, to place an finish to this violence. You have got the flexibility and energy to stop a mass crime and genocide,” Awad mentioned.
The struggle broke out on October 7 when the Palestinian group Hamas launched a extremely coordinated assault on Israel from the besieged Gaza Strip, killing a whole bunch of individuals and capturing dozens.
Israel responded with a bombing marketing campaign that killed practically 1,900 Palestinians, together with greater than 500 kids in Gaza. Israeli authorities have additionally introduced a complete blockade of Gaza, stopping gas and different primary provides from getting into the realm.
As well as, Human Rights Watch (HRW) accused Israel of utilizing white phosphorus in violation of worldwide legislation, which prohibits using extremely incendiary munitions in populated areas equivalent to Gaza, a slim strip of land residence to 2.3 million individuals.
Early on Friday, Israel ordered greater than 1.1 million Palestinians there – practically half the realm’s inhabitants – to flee south inside 24 hours, sparking additional outrage from rights teams.
On the information convention in Washington DC, Awad, a Palestinian American, emphasised the necessity to handle the historic context of the battle.
Main rights teams, equivalent to Amnesty Worldwide and Human Rights Watch, have mentioned Israel is imposing a system of apartheid on the Palestinians.
“Historical past didn’t start on October 7,” Awad mentioned, referring to the Hamas assault. He referred to as Gaza the world’s largest open-air jail, a standard criticism amongst human rights defenders who denounce Israel’s makes an attempt to limit motion to and from the territory and detain its residents.
Awad added that Palestinians have been “subjected to every kind of violence, discrimination and ethnic cleaning” for many years.
Awad highlighted Israel’s killing of two Americans final yr – Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh and aged Palestinian American man Omar Assad – and mentioned their lives didn’t matter to the US authorities.
“We, as Muslims, Palestinians and Individuals, imagine that each human life is effective, sacred and have to be protected,” Awad mentioned.
For his half, Chris Habiby, director of nationwide authorities affairs and advocacy on the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC), mentioned the US ought to name for rapid de-escalation to cease the violence.
As a substitute, he mentioned, “our elected leaders perpetuate Israeli lies, name for non secular struggle, and overtly advocate the destruction of the second most populous place on planet Earth.”
A number of American politicians have referred to as for uncontrolled violence towards Gaza. Republican Senator Lindsey Graham informed Fox Information earlier this week: “We’re in a spiritual struggle right here. I’m with Israel. Do what you need to do to defend your self. Degree the realm.”
We’re in a spiritual struggle and I unapologetically assist Israel. pic.twitter.com/AQDY4ELrmJ
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) October 11, 2023
Habiby mentioned such rhetoric has led to a “tradition of concern” in Arab-American communities. He cited incidents of assaults on Palestinian solidarity demonstrators throughout the nation.
“In New York Metropolis they’re waving the flag of a Jewish terrorist group,” he mentioned, referring to the Jewish Protection League, an ultranationalist group suspected of finishing up violent assaults on Arab and Palestinian Individuals.
“We want our elected leaders to face up and keep in mind the humanity of the individuals, the humanity of the Palestinians. This isn’t a one-sided affair right here. We now have to do higher,” he mentioned.
Ayah Ziyadeh, advocacy director at American Muslims for Palestine, additionally accused US politicians of demonizing Palestinians to provide Israel cowl for committing its “heinous crimes.”
“The foundation causes of this violence are clear. It has been many years of Israeli army occupation, apartheid and US complicity,” she mentioned.
‘Mr President, finish this’: Palestinian Individuals communicate out on Gaza | Israeli-Palestinian Battle Information
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