Biden under pressure from his left to call for ceasefire or lose Muslim voters
by Rachel Schilke, Breaking News Reporter
October 31, 2023 04:29 PM
| Updated Oct 31, 2023, 06:17 PM
President Joe Biden is facing more pressure to call for a ceasefire in the war between Israel and Hamas, this time from Muslim voters who say they may withhold their support for his 2024 reelection bid if he continues to back Israel.
The National Muslim Democratic Council, which includes party leaders from key battleground states such as Michigan, Ohio, and Pennsylvania, sent a letter to Biden on Monday urging him to broker a ceasefire between the Palestinian terrorist organization and the Jewish state by 5 p.m. Eastern time on Tuesday.
Critics of a ceasefire, including Biden, have repeated that Israel has a right to defend itself, a message the president repeated when he visited Israel earlier this month in a show of support for the longtime U.S. ally.
Days later, Biden rejected the idea of even considering talking about a ceasefire until Hamas releases the more than 200 hostages, including at least 30 Americans, it is holding captive in Gaza.
"Here's an idea, and it's just an idea I'll throw out there. They can release them all now. Just let them go now because these people didn't do anything wrong," he told reporters. "They're just innocent civilians being caught up in this conflict. Let them go now. Now, I recognize that's not going to happen, which is why we're going to keep working with our partners in the region to do what we can to get them released."
The letter, titled “2023 Ceasefire Ultimatum,” warns Biden that Muslim leaders will mobilize "Muslim, Arab, and allied voters" to "withhold endorsement, support, or votes for any candidate who endorses the Israeli offensive against the Palestinian people." They also call for the establishment of humanitarian aid.
“It has become evident that our voices are being ignored, but our votes will not be. Simply put, as Gaza turns red, so could crucial battleground states,” the Muslim leaders wrote.
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https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/white-house/biden-under-pressure-israel-ceasefire-or-lose-muslim-voters
