Biden Apologizes to Muslim Leaders Over Gaza Death Remarks
President Joe Biden has issued an apology to prominent Muslim-American leaders for publicly questioning the reported death toll in Gaza by the Hamas-controlled Ministry of Health.
The apology came during a meeting with five Muslim American leaders, convened in response to the backlash following Biden’s comments on October 25.
The meeting, initially scheduled for 30 minutes, extended beyond an hour as Biden listened to the leaders share personal stories of individuals affected by the conflict. Expressing regret, Biden stated, “I’m sorry. I’m disappointed in myself.”
Before the press conference, Biden openly cast doubt on the accuracy of Gaza casualty figures, citing concerns about Hamas’ terror track record. Despite facing criticism domestically, Biden has been advocating for Israel to minimize civilian casualties.
“I have no notion that the Palestinians are telling the truth about how many people are killed. I’m sure innocents have been killed, and it’s a price of waging war,” he asserted.
The conflict has reportedly claimed over 14,000 Palestinian lives in Gaza, including numerous women and children, according to data from the Hamas-controlled Ministry of Health.
Israel has suffered more than 1,200 fatalities, primarily civilians targeted in a massive attack by the terror group on October 7.
During the meeting, Muslim-American leaders urged Biden to exhibit more empathy for the Palestinians, emphasizing the human toll of the ongoing conflict.
