Thaer Ahmad, a Palestinian American doctor, said he left a meeting at the White House Tuesday evening due to President Biden’s handling of the war in Gaza.
Ahmad, an emergency medicine doctor who worked in Gaza in January, said he attended a stakeholder meeting at the White House, which replaced a Ramadan celebration. Attendees insisted on no food at the meeting, he added.
“It didn't make sense for us to eat while discussing a famine,” he told CNN host Kaitlan Collins .“We arrived and the president, vice president, and national security adviser were in the room. The president made brief comments saying he wants to hear from us and listen to us.”
Ahmad said he spoke first in the meeting and then walked out. He told Collins he was the only Palestinian in the room Tuesday evening.
“Our hearts are broken for what’s been happening over the last six months, and the rhetoric from the Biden administration and the White House has frustrated many people, especially Palestinian Americans, Muslim Americans, and Arab Americans,” he said. “We are not happy with the actions taken, there have been no concrete steps.”
“I was able to share that with the president and let him know that out of respect for my community and all the people who have suffered and been killed, I need to leave the meeting,” Ahmad continued. “And I want to leave with decision-makers and let them know what it feels like for somebody to say something and then walk away without hearing them out or their response.
When asked for Biden’s response to his walkout, the doctor replied, “He actually said that he understood and I walked away.”
Biden hosted a meeting with Muslim community leaders to discuss important issues on Tuesday, a White House official told The Hill. After the meeting, to honor Ramadan, the White House hosted “a small breaking of the fast, prayer, and Iftar with a number of senior Muslim Administration officials.”
The scaled-down Iftar dinner followed the decline of several invitees to the event, CNN reported.In 2023, the White House hosted nearly 350 people for a reception celebrating Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of Ramadan.
Biden has faced protests for months over his handling of the conflict between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas. Last week, he was interrupted at two campaign stops — one in Raleigh, N.C., and one in New York City, when he was with former Presidents Obama and Clinton for a major donor event.
Democrats are worried that the Gaza conflict is becoming a significant political disadvantage for Biden and other candidates as the American public is increasingly critical of Israel’s actions.
The administration is considering selling Israel up to 50 new F-15 fighter jets, 30 AIM-120 advanced medium-range air-to-air missiles, and Joint Direct Attack Munition kits. The Hill confirmed.
And, earlier this week, seven aid workers with World Central Kitchen were killed Monday in a strike that Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu took responsibility for, adding to anger about the situation from Biden critics.
