The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, a major US civil rights group, is pressuring President Joe Biden to halt arms deliveries to Israel, Reuters reported Thursday. This comes as the 46th president is struggling to reconcile his support for Israel with his need to consolidate his base ahead of the November presidential election against former President Donald Trump.
The group urged that Biden "indefinitely" halt all weapons deliveries to Israel and pressure the US ally to end its war in the Gaza Strip, sending a reminder that his support for Israel could hurt him among Black voters in November's election.
The NAACP's call was a rare instance of the influential civil rights organization taking a position on US foreign policy towards a country without a significant Black population. It appeared likely to deepen the Democratic president's election-year challenges as he tries to back a key ally abroad and temper unrest among his supporters at home. The 115-year-old civil rights group said Israel had a right to defend itself after the Hamas militant attacks on Oct. 7 that Israel says killed some 1,200 people and took more than 250 hostages.
Video: Biden urges Hamas to accept deal / Credit: YouTube/WHiteHouse
The NAACP urged Hamas to return the hostages and "stop all terrorist activity." It also urged Israel to "commit to an offensive strategy that is aligned with international and humanitarian laws." Israel faces accusations at the International Court of Justice that it has violated the genocide convention, which it denies. The NAACP, which has advocated for racial justice and rights for Black Americans, said the US must use its influence with Israel to bring a permanent ceasefire to Gaza. According to health authorities in the Hamas-run enclave, Israel's campaign has killed more than 36,000 Palestinians, caused widespread hunger, and displaced most of the population from their homes.
"The NAACP calls on President Biden to draw the red line and indefinitely end the shipment of all weapons and artillery to the state of Israel and other states that supply weapons to Hamas and other terrorist organizations. It is imperative that the violence that has claimed so many civilian lives immediately stop," the organization said in a statement first provided to Reuters. The NAACP stance represents the latest warning sign that Biden may pay a price at the ballot box among Black voters on Nov. 5 for his staunch support of Israel.
Black voters have long been a loyal Democratic constituency, and they played a significant role in Biden's victory in 2020 when he beat Republican Donald Trump, whom he faces again this year. However, polls show a lack of enthusiasm for Biden among Black voters.
Biden has come under fire from his left-wing allies, mostly the progressive wing of the Democratic Party, for siding with Israel in the Gaza war launched after Hamas' atrocities on Oct. 7. Biden has been steadfastly supporting Israel in the 8-month campaign, although recently he halted some deliveries he thought could inflict harm on civilians ahead of Israel's operation in Rafah, the last stronghold of Hamas.
Israel reiterated on Wednesday its refusal to halt the Gaza offensive for a resumption of hostage-release talks with Hamas after mediator Qatar said it had given the Palestinian militants a US-backed truce proposal. Efforts to wind down the almost eight-month-old war have stumbled over Israel's declared aim of eliminating Hamas as a governing and military force, while Hamas has given no sign it would step down and wants the Israeli offensive called off. "Any negotiations with Hamas would be conducted only under fire," Gallant said in remarks carried by Israeli media after he flew aboard a warplane to inspect the Gaza front.
On October 7, Hamas launched an unprecedented assault on Israel, with hundreds of terrorists infiltrating communities near the Gaza Strip. During this attack, more than 250 people were taken hostage by Hamas, and another 1200 were brutally murdered – some burned alive and raped as well.
In response, the IDF launched a war and has retaken the Gaza Strip, all but obliterating Hamas' major forces. Its last stronghold, in Rafah, has also recently been targeted by Israeli forces, who have recently retaken the town's border with Egpyt – where the terrorist organization had conducted its smuggling operations in the past 20 years through underground tunnels. In a recent raid on the northern part of the Gaza Strip, the IDF successfully dismantled and destroyed a network of terror tunnels in the town of Jabalia where hostages were held. Just days ago, President Biden announced that Israel had submitted a new plan aimed at returning all the captives. However, this so far has not been met with a definite response from Hamas.
Several weeks ago, Hamas released a propaganda video showing British-Israeli hostage Popplewell. Popplewell, 51, was taken hostage with his mother, Channah Peri, 79, from their home in Kibbutz Nirim during the Hamas onslaught on Oct. 7. His brother, Roi Popplewell, 54, was killed by terrorists near his home in the kibbutz. In the 10-second video, Popplewell, who appears to be suffering from an eye injury, just about manages to introduce himself. It is unclear when the footage was filmed.
