WASHINGTON, United States: A Palestinian-American doctor said he walked out of a Ramadan event with President Joe Biden at the White House to show solidarity with Gaza residents against Israeli offensive.
Thaer Ahmad, who visited Gaza just a few months ago, told the media that he walked out of Tuesday’s meeting between Biden and members of the Muslim community in protest of America’s “rhetoric” in support of Israel.
“I let him know that I am from a community that’s reeling. We are grieving. Our heart is broken for what’s been taking place over the last six months,” Ahmad said he told the president. He is an emergency doctor from Chicago.
He said he then “let him know that out of respect for my community, out of respect for all of the people who have suffered, who have been killed in the process, I need to walk out of the meeting.”
Biden “actually said that he understood,” he added.
The White House Wednesday said that president Biden respected the doctor’s stance.
“The president respects any American’s right to peacefully protest,” Karine Jean-Pierre, the Press Secretary, told a briefing. “He understands that this is a painful moment for many Americans.”
Biden had downsized the traditional event to mark the Muslim holy month of Ramadan amid growing domestic anger over his support for Israel’s military strikes on the Gaza Strip in the wake of the October 7 Hamas attack.
Tensions in Gaza escalated this week after an Israeli airstrike killed seven employees of the US-based charity World Central Kitchen.
In one of his strongest comments since the war began, Biden said Tuesday he was furious and accused Israel of not doing enough to protect aid workers and civilians.
But the White House said Biden continues to support Israel’s “right to defend itself” and has no plans to limit arms deliveries to key U.S. ally.
