An Open Letter to Arab and Muslim Americans: Trump Will Intensify Gaza Grief, Not Relieve It
- The former president encourages the continuation of bombing and has no condemnation for the deprivation of food, water and electricity.
Dear Arab and Muslim Brothers and Sisters, and People of Conscience Demanding Peace, Netanyahu is acting out his bloodlust mercilessly. I have waking nightmares of my family being in a war zone, or refugee camp, with no escape and no food or water, if we are swept up falsely in a mass deportation effort. For Gazans, it is happening now. Watching the continued carnage has been horrifying.
If Trump had been president on October 7 last year, would Gaza be better off? Trump told Netanyahu “Do what you have to do.” He has said that Biden is “holding Netanyahu back”.
At Trump’s rally on Oct. 27 at Madison Square Garden in New York, Rudy Giuliani said: “The Palestinians are taught to kill us at two-years old. They won’t let a Palestinian in Jordan. They won’t let a Palestinian in Egypt. And Harris wants to bring them to YOU!. . Donald Trump is on the side of Israel!”
Trump and Co. are indifferent to Palestinian death. Trump encourages the continuation of bombing and has no condemnation for the deprivation of food, water and electricity. If he were in control now, the war would be as brutal as it is or more so.
Right now, Trump’s opponent, whoever it was, would look like the better choice. He cannot be the better choice now, given he has shown his intentions so clearly. If Trump is elected, Netanyahu will be even further emboldened. Trump’s way of ending the war will echo Niki Haley’s message on an Israeli missile, “Finish them”. Ending” the war will mean Netanyahu’s “victory”, not peace for Palestinians. Heartbreak and horror will continue, and expand to wherever Netanyahu wants to go.
If Trump is elected, all of us here, especially immigrants and descendants of immigrants will be consumed with protecting our families here from his regime and Project 2025, denaturalization, arbitrary detention for mass deportation, loss of health insurance, decimation of Social Security and Medicare.
Advocacy for justice for Palestinians will weaken, not strengthen, as we fight to protect ourselves from disastrous policy and white nationalism. If Trump had been President on October 7, 2023, would Gaza be better off? If not, electing him President now is not the solution. Not voting, or voting third party in our swing state helps him to victory. Please consider his words now and future actions against Palestinians as you vote.
Angana Shah, a lawyer who has worked in corporate law in Washington, D.C., and in international rule of law promotion worldwide, now works as a lobbyist for social justice organizations in Michigan.