President Joe Biden is set to meet with a small group of Muslim American community leaders at the White House on Tuesday, followed by a scaled-down iftar dinner. The meeting comes as the Biden administration aims to address tensions stemming from its strong support for Israel's conflict with Hamas in Gaza.
Joining President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris will be Muslim staffers from the Democratic administration and senior national security aides. This gathering marks a significant engagement between the White House and the Muslim American community since the conflict began six months ago. The dinner will also include a breaking of the fast ceremony in observance of the holy month of Ramadan.
The White House has not disclosed the names of the community members who will participate in the meeting. In previous years, President Biden has hosted large receptions to commemorate Ramadan and Eid at the White House. However, these plans were altered this year due to the ongoing conflict, which has resulted in a significant loss of life in Gaza and Israel.
More than 30,000 individuals, primarily civilians, have been killed in Gaza during the conflict. Additionally, over 1,200 Israelis lost their lives in an attack by Hamas last year, with approximately 250 Israeli troops perishing in subsequent fighting. Earlier this year, White House officials faced a cool reception from Muslim American community leaders in Detroit, a swing state where a substantial number of Democratic primary voters expressed disapproval of President Biden's approach to the conflict.
The news of President Biden's meeting with Muslim American community leaders was initially reported by National Public Radio.
