NAACP Urges Biden to Halt Arms Sales to Israel and Advocate for an End to the Gaza Conflict | Photo: Probal Rashid/LightRocket via Getty Images
June 06, 2024 Story by: Editor
In a recent communication, the NAACP urged President Joe Biden to cease arms shipments to Israel and leverage the United States’ influence to bring an end to the Gaza conflict.
This appeal follows Biden’s announcement on May 31, where he mentioned Israel’s new cease-fire proposal to Hamas, asserting, “It’s time for this war to end and for the day after to begin.” Biden stated that he was presenting a truce proposal from Israel intended for Hamas.
“The most recent statement from the Biden administration is useful but does not go far enough,” NAACP officials commented. “It is one thing to call for a ceasefire; it is another to take the measures necessary to work towards liberation for all. It is imperative that the violence that has claimed so many civilian lives, immediately stop.”
Biden-Harris campaign spokesperson Sarafina Chitika conveyed in an email, “The President shares the goal for an end to the violence and a just, lasting peace in the Middle East, and he’s working tirelessly to that end.”
“The stakes of this election couldn’t be higher, and with our communities, our democracy, and our freedoms on the line, our campaign is putting in the work to earn — not ask for — every vote,” she added.
According to the Gaza Health Ministry, more than 36,500 individuals have been killed in Gaza since Israel’s offensive began following Hamas’ October 7 attacks. Nearly 2 million Palestinians have been displaced, The Associated Press reported. As of April, about 1,200 people had been killed in Israel, with Israeli officials noting that around 120 people remain held captive in Gaza, at least a third of whom are presumed dead.
The dwindling support for Biden among Black voters has been a notable topic in discussions about his stance on Israel. Black communities were crucial in securing Biden’s 2020 victory, with 92% of Black voters supporting him over Donald Trump. However, nearly four years later, only 77% of Black voters indicate they would vote for Biden again. Although the Israel-Gaza war is becoming increasingly significant to Black voters, economic issues remain their primary concern in the upcoming November election, NPR reports.
Earlier this year, over 1,000 Black pastors across the nation, influenced by their younger congregants, signed an open letter urging Biden to advocate for a cease-fire, The New York Times reported. They also demanded the release of all hostages by Hamas and an end to Israel’s occupation of the West Bank. Similar to the NAACP, the pastors warned that Biden’s support for Israel could negatively impact his re-election bid.
Biden has faced growing pressure from politicians, college students, activists, and others to secure a cease-fire and withdraw financial backing for Israel’s military efforts.A Carnegie Endowment for International Peace poll in April revealed that 68% of Black Americans favor U.S. support for a permanent cease-fire. Additionally, the proportion of Black Americans feeling a connection to the Palestinian struggle rose from 32% in October to 45% in April. Another poll indicated that while Americans generally support Israel, a majority of Black Americans polled do not favor “unwavering support” for Israel and show greater sympathy for Gaza compared to other racial groups surveyed.
