CHICAGO: A group of Arab-American leaders met with Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Washington D.C. on Friday night, demanding that the US 鈥渟top the genocide鈥� in Gaza and define a clear path to 鈥淧alestinian liberation.鈥�

The group was led by Arab American Institute President James Zogby and included several key organizations such as the American Federation of Ramallah, the Arab American Chamber of Commerce, Arab America, and the US Palestinian Council.

In a statement sent to Arab News, organizers said they demanded that the Biden administration endorse an 鈥渋mmediate ceasefire鈥� in Gaza; call for the 鈥渞eturn of all hostages,鈥� including Israelis taken on Oct. 7 and Palestinians being held without judicial process; support the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza; ensure 鈥渦nimpeded鈥� humanitarian assistance to its civilian population; and cease weapons deliveries to Israel.

Israel has received more than $40 billion in aid from the Biden administration.  

鈥淲hen we met with Secretary Blinken in October of 2023, I noted that Israel鈥檚 indiscriminate bombing of Gaza had killed 5,000 Palestinians. I urged an immediate ceasefire to save lives. I also noted that Israel and the US were operating under the mistaken belief that the war could be won, with the likely outcome being the emergence of Hamas 2.0,鈥� Zogby said.

鈥淲e come back seven months later with over 36,000 dead, most of Gaza鈥檚 homes and infrastructure destroyed, millions of Palestinian lives shattered, and Gaza on the verge of starvation.鈥�

After the meeting, Zogby called US efforts to urge Israeli restraint 鈥渇eeble,鈥� adding: 鈥淥nce again, we are calling on the Biden administration to demand an immediate ceasefire to end the unfolding genocide, to save Palestinian lives, and salvage whatever remains of the United States鈥� tattered image across the Arab world.鈥�

Arab and Muslim leaders who met with US President Joe Biden last month in Washington D.C. left disappointed by his failure to enforce a ceasefire.

Several attendees walked out in disgust, including Dr. Thaer Ahmad, who told reporters after the April 2 meeting that he was leaving 鈥渙ut of respect for my community.鈥�

After Friday鈥檚 meeting, USPC President John Dabeet said attendees 鈥渁sked Secretary Blinken and the administration to subject any military assistance to Israel to strict oversight to ensure that it is fully compliant with US law, international law and human rights conventions.鈥�

Bilal Hammoud, director of the AACC, said the Biden administration 鈥渉as failed to act urgently and within its values to take meaningful measures that ensure the freedom, equality and prosperity of the Palestinian people, resulting in the loss of tens of thousands of innocent lives.

鈥淭here must be a full stop of US military funding that is threatening the security and stability of the whole region, including the cessation of attacks on sovereign Arab nations.鈥�