Biden cites ‘pain being felt by so many’ Arab Americans over Israel-Hamas war

WASHINGTON — Joe Biden acknowledges “the pain being felt” by many Arab Americans over the war in Gaza and over United States support of Israel and its military offensive against Hamas that has left Arabs, Muslims and anti-war activists angry and disappointed.

Many Muslims and Arabs in the US have urged the Democratic president to call for a permanent ceasefire, stop the sale of weapons to Israel and use more leverage to protect civilian lives as a humanitarian crisis unfolds in Gaza amid the ongoing war that was triggered by the Hamas terror group’s devastating October 7 attack against Israel.

“We must also pause to reflect on the pain being felt by so many in the Arab American community with the war in Gaza,” Biden says in a proclamation on Arab American Heritage Month released by the White House, adding he was “devastated” by the suffering.

Biden says he’s working to increase humanitarian aid into Gaza, free hostages taken by Hamas and establish an immediate ceasefire lasting at least six weeks.