The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today condemned comments by the U.S. Ambassador to Israel Jacob Lew dismissing a report by U.S.-backed agency on Israel’s campaign of forced starvation in northern Gaza by stating that the ethnic cleansing of the area was largely completed.
The Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET) reported that famine levels are expected in Gaza due to Israel’s “near-total blockade” on food and humanitarian aid. [NOTE: FEWS NET was created by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to warn of global food crises.]
FEWS NET also said, “it is highly likely that the food consumption and acute malnutrition thresholds for Famine (IPC Phase 5) have now been surpassed in North Gaza Governorate.” It warned that deaths from starvation could pass famine levels as early as next month if Israel keeps up its near total blockade of the region.
In a statement, Ambassador Lew said, “it is now apparent that the civilian population in that part of Gaza is in the range of 7,000-15,000, not 65,000-75,000 which is the basis of this report.” FEWS Net maintains that its assessment is valid even if the population has been forcibly reduced to as few as 10,000.
SEE: Famine is Weeks Away in North Gaza, Global Monitor Warns
Following that criticism, FEWS NET removed the report from its website.
In a statement, Washington, D.C., based CAIR said:
“Ambassador Lew’s callous dismissal of this shocking report by a U.S.-backed agency exposing Israel’s campaign of forced starvation in Gaza reminds one of the old joke about a man who murdered his parents and then asked for mercy because he is now an ‘orphan.’
“To reject a report on starvation in northern Gaza by appearing to boast about the fact that it has been successfully ethnically cleansed of its native population is just the latest example of Biden administration officials supporting, enabling and excusing Israel’s clear and open campaign of genocide in Gaza.
“We ask FEWS NET not to submit to the bullying of genocide supporters and to again make its report available to the public.”
Yesterday, CAIR reiterated its call for the American Medical Association (AMA) to condemn Israel’s attacks on medical facilities in Gaza as three hospitals in devastated northern Gaza are under siege or face forced evacuation.
Israel has slaughtered more than 45,000 people in Gaza, mostly women and children.
CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
La misión de CAIR es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.
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CONTACT: CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell, 404-285-9530, e-Mitchell@cair.com; CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert McCaw, 202-742-6448, rmccaw@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