The Maryland office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) today commended Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen for his consistent “moral clarity” after recognizing that the United States is complicit in the starvation of the people of Gaza.
When asked on CBS’ Face the Nation about photographs of starving children in Gaza, Van Hollen said, “It’s very hard to look at those pictures. And the United States has been complicit. President Trump was in the region and really did nothing, said virtually nothing about what’s happening in Gaza, which is on fire.”
SEE: Van Hollen: The U.S. Is ‘Complicit’ in Starving the People of Gaza
In a statement, CAIR Maryland Director Zainab Chaudry said:
“At a time of widespread apathy and complacency regarding the Israeli government’s escalated genocide in Gaza, we commend Senator Van Hollen’s moral clarity and consistency regarding the dire need for global intervention to save lives. His willingness to speak out against policies that perpetuate suffering and to hold our own government accountable for its role in this devastating crisis reflects leadership that is crucial as every second counts. We urge all members of Congress to follow Senator Van Hollen’s lead in upholding international law and human rights for Palestinians and advocating for an end to the Israel government’s war crimes.”
She noted that CAIR has previously commended Senator Van Hollen’s opposition to the Israeli genocide in Gaza.
SEE: CAIR Welcomes Sen. Van Hollen’s Rebuke of Biden’s Failure to Act on Gaza Genocide
CAIR Welcomes Sen. Chris Van Hollen’s Boycott of Benjamin Netanyahu’s Address to Congress
On Friday, CAIR called on President Trump to address and renounce an “insane” plan to ethnically-cleanse Gaza and force its population to Libya as reported in national media.
Washington, D.C., based CAIR also said it is “now or never” for elected officials to speak out against Israel’s clear genocidal plan to “flatten and occupy” Gaza and finish the ethnic cleansing of the Palestinian people.
Last week, CAIR condemned the Israeli slaughter of more than 100 Palestinians on the day marking the 77th anniversary of the Nakba (May 15), during which Israeli forces carried out the ethnic cleansing of most of Palestine in 1948.
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CONTACT: CAIR Maryland Director Zainab Chaudry, 410-971-6062, zchaudry@cair.com; CAIR Maryland Outreach Coordinator Kim Syuardi, ksyuardi@cair.com, 202-850-9293; 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