Muslim American Leaders Urge Biden to Show Empathy for Palestinians

Muslim-American leaders expressed their concerns to President Joe Biden in a private meeting, urging him to show more empathy towards Palestinian lives and criticizing his comments casting doubt on civilian death figures in Gaza. The meeting also included calls for a ceasefire in Gaza, as frustrations grow within the Muslim-American community over the White House's handling of the Israel-Hamas conflict. Biden clarified his comment about the death toll, stating that he was trying to distinguish between Hamas and the Palestinian people. The president has faced criticism for demonstrating less empathy towards Palestinians than Israelis, and some groups have warned that this approach could become a political liability for his reelection. The White House has been engaging with Muslim leaders and community advocates to address concerns and has called for humanitarian pauses to allow for the faster flow of aid into Gaza.