Palestinian Physician Walks out of White House Meeting

An emergency room physician who has spent weeks volunteering at Al-Nasser Hospital in Gaza earlier this year walked out of a White House meeting on April 2 to protest how Joe Biden's administration has handled the war between Israel and Hamas.

Thaer Ahmad was one of about twelve people who were invited to the White House for a meeting with President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, national security adviser Jake Sullivan, and senior White House aides.

"It was disappointing that I was the only Palestinian in attendance, and out of respect for my community who is mourning and suffering," Ahmad said after walking out. "I told the president that I’m going to leave. He told me he understood why I needed to leave."

Ahmad recounted his experience in Gaza and emphasized the need for more aid.

"I was in Gaza, I tried to do everything I can to help my people there. But unfortunately, it wasn’t enough, the situation has gotten worse. Our community is reeling, we are in the state of mourning, we need the President to intervene and demand a ceasefire. I have a tremendous amount of survivor’s guilt. And I know many Palestinian Americans feel the same way," Ahmad said.

Do you think we should be doing what Hamas wants and supporting Gaza, or should we be supporting one of our country's most important allies, Israel?