(WASHINGTON, D.C., 1/19/2024) – The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today condemned the killing of a Palestinian-American teen by the forces of the far-right Israeli government in the occupied West Bank.
American-born 17-year-old Tawfiq Hafiz Hijazi’s uncle told Reuters that the incident occurred during clashes with the Israeli military. National Security spokesman John Kirby expressed “concern” about the killing.
In a statement, CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad said:
“This murder of an American teenager by the forces of the far-right Israeli government again shows that President Biden’s unwillingness to call for an end to the ongoing Israeli genocide and ethnic cleansing is resulting in the deaths of American citizens and their relatives.
“The Biden administration has consistently shown its disregard for the killing and injuring of Americans of Palestinian descent. How many Palestinians must die before the Biden administration does what it would do for any other people similarly targeted by genocide?”
He said hundreds of relatives of American citizens have already been killed by Israel in Gaza the West Bank and noted President Biden’s refusal to meet with the family of murdered Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh
SEE: CAIR-NJ Joins Palestinian Americans Who Lost 1,000+ Family Members in Israel’s War on Gaza (Video)
Video: CAIR-MN Announces Dozens of Members of Minnesota Family Killed in Gaza
Last month, CAIR called on the State Department and FBI to investigate the shooting and detention of a 13-year-old Palestinian-American boy by Israeli forces in the West Bank.
Last year, CAIR called on the Biden administration to demand “real justice” after an announcement that Israeli soldiers will not face criminal prosecution for the death of an elderly Palestinian-American man who they dragged from a car, bound and left unresponsive on the ground overnight after apparently suffering a heart attack.
Yesterday, CAIR called on President Biden to condemn Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and take action after he admitted to being opposed to the existence of a Palestinian state in any scenario.
Also yesterday, CAIR condemned what it called the latest “Israeli war crimes of the day,” including a new call for ethnic cleansing of Gaza by a top Israeli government official, the demolition of a Gaza university, attacks near a Gaza hospital, video of Israeli troops mocking Palestinian suffering, and Israeli actions forcing women to give birth in the streets.
SEE: CAIR Condemns ‘Israeli War Crimes of the Day,’ Including New Call for Ethnic Cleansing of Gaza
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