(Washington, DC, March 22, 2024) – The US Council of Muslim Organizations (USCMO), the nation’s leading umbrella of national, regional, and local Muslim American organizations, announces the cancellation of its Annual Ramadan Iftar event in Washington, DC, as an act of solidarity with the people of Gaza who are facing starvation due to the ongoing genocide committed by Israel.
For years, the USCMO has hosted its Annual Ramadan Iftar in Washington, D.C., bringing together members of Congress, government officials, foreign diplomats, interfaith partners, and community leaders to celebrate the holy month of Ramadan. This event has been a cornerstone in promoting unity, peace, and understanding among diverse communities. However, in light of the dire situation in Gaza, USCMO has chosen to forgo this event to draw attention to the appalling starvation of the people of Gaza at the hands of Netanyahu and his extremist government.
The cancellation comes in response to the horrific loss of over 32,000 innocent lives, predominantly children and women, in Gaza. Netanyahu War Cabinet’s policy of using starvation as a tool of subjugation is a blatant war crime. The bombing of locations designated for humanitarian aid distribution is a flagrant violation of international law and must be condemned unequivocally.
The Biden administration must acknowledge that sending food aid and bombs simultaneously does not alleviate starvation but only exacerbates the suffering of the Palestinian people. By failing to exert sufficient pressure on Israel, the largest recipient of US aid, the Biden administration is complicit in the genocide being perpetrated with impunity by Netanyahu and his extremist government.
USCMO calls on the Biden administration to immediately implement a permanent ceasefire and facilitate the unimpeded entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza. The international community has overwhelmingly supported a ceasefire, yet the United States has failed to do so. This complacency is unacceptable and must end.
In light of these events, the USCMO is rallying its community members and all people of conscience to voice their demands to the Biden administration for an immediate and permanent ceasefire, the withdrawal of Israel from Gaza, the lifting of the blockade, and the commencement of Gaza’s reconstruction without delay.
“This genocide and deliberate starvation tactic by Netanyahu and his extremist government represent a shameful scar on the face of superpowers that have so far been unable to stop such atrocities,” said Oussama Jammal, USCMO’s secretary-general. “We stand with Gaza in their time of need and call upon our community to donate generously for Gaza this Ramadan.”
The USCMO remains committed to advocating for peace and justice and urges the US government and the international community to bring an end to the Israeli genocide against the Palestinian people.
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