The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today demanded that the Biden administration condemn a top Israeli official’s call for the ethnic cleansing of Gaza.
Speaking at a “Preparing to Resettle Gaza” rally, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said: “We will encourage voluntary transfer of all Gazan citizens. We will offer them the opportunity to move to other countries because that land belongs to us.”
In a statement, CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper said:
“This clear call for the ethnic cleansing of Gaza by a top official of the far-right Israeli government once again demonstrates Israel’s genocidal intent, which must be condemned by the Biden administration, despite its own complicity in the genocide.”
He noted that CAIR previously condemned Gvir’s statement that if he could, he would build a synagogue on the Al Aqsa Mosque compound, one of Islam’s holiest sites.
Hooper said that earlier today, CAIR called on the U.S. Department of State and Justice Department (DOJ) to investigate more reports of Israeli forces using Palestinian civilians as “human shields” in Gaza as violations of American laws on weapons transfers to nations that violate human rights.
CAIR also said the DOJ and the State Department should investigate images post online of ethnic cleansing in norther Gaza in which hundreds of civilians are shown being forcibly removed from their homes and land. Images also show Israeli forces burning the Indonesian Hospital in northern Gaza.
He noted that last month, CAIR called for the resignation of U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken after he reportedly lied to Congress after two government authorities concluded that Israel deliberately blocked deliveries of humanitarian aid to Gaza. American law requires the government to cut off weapons supplies to nations that prevent delivery of humanitarian aid.
Yesterday, CAIR said history will judge President Biden and his administration’s officials for enabling genocide after another massacre of Palestinian civilians in Gaza, this time murdering 87 – including many children – in an Israeli attack on north Gaza’s Beit Lahiya.
Also over the weekend, CAIR said the Israeli massacres of civilians in Gaza demonstrate the Biden administration’s lack of respect for Arab and Muslim humanity and its complicity with genocide.
The far-right Israeli government has slaughtered more than 42,000 Palestinians in Gaza, mostly women and children, in the past year.
On Friday, CAIR condemned the reported Israeli “double tap” targeting a child in Gaza and the rescuers who came to that child’s aid.
Video posted online shows the child in the street after being wounded by Israeli fire. When other civilians came to that child’s aid, they were targeted by Israeli forces.
Last week, CAIR said “the seemingly endless list of Israeli massacres of civilians in Gaza is the direct result of the Biden administration’s complicity with genocide.”
CAIR’s statement came after Israel slaughtered at least 28 people, including women and children, at one of the main UN-run shelters in Jabalia refugee camp. Israel has already slaughtered more than 42,000 Palestinians in Gaza, mostly women and children.
Also last week, CAIR condemned the murder of the mayor of the town of Nabatieh in Lebanon by Israeli forces, a reported plan by Israel’s ruling Likud Party to establish illegal settlements in Gaza and video posted online showing Israel destroying an entire Lebanese village.
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CONTACT: CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell, 404-285-9530, e-Mitchell@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Manager Ismail Allison, 202-770-6280, iallison@cair.com