Palestinian community leaders refuse to meet with White House officials in Chicago in protest of war on Gaza

CHICAGO — White House officials are facing resistance from a meeting with Arab, Muslim and Palestinian community leaders in Chicago.

Some activists say there is no time, no need for any meetings at this point with the Biden administration. The Sun-Times is reporting at least two dozen Palestinian Arabn and Muslim leaders are refusing to meet with senior White House officials.

The meeting is expected to happen Thursday in Chicago ahead of the Democratic National Convention in August.

The private outreach meeting comes ahead of Tuesday’s primary in Illinois. Instead of voting for President Biden, there is push from some groups to write in ‘Gaza’ or leave it blank.

More than 100,000 democrats voted uncommitted in Michigan’s primary to protest the President’s handling of Israel’s war on Gaza as over 30,000 Palestinians have been killed.

U.S. Palestinian Community Network demands Biden cut aid to Israel and urge a ceasefire in Gaza, saying those who attend Thursday’s meeting do not represent the larger community.

“We’ve been making our demands of the White House, the administration and the leading Democrats for five months and nobody has been listening. There is no reason for anyone to meet with them now to listen to them,” Hatem Abudayyeh, the national chair of the U.S. Palestinian Community Network said.

He says they will continue to protest on the street and the ballot box.

The White House has ramped up calls for a temporary ceasefire but negotiations remain stalled.