Rights Groups Slam Trump’s ‘Racist’ Commentary on Palestinians

IQNA – Former US president Donald Trump's comments regarding Palestinians have been slammed as “racist” by rights groups.

Trump’s comments came in a debate with President Joe Biden on Thursday night.

The debate briefly touched upon the ongoing Israeli war on Gaza, which, as reported by the local health ministry, has resulted in 38,000 casualties and a severe humanitarian crisis. However, the discussion did not delve into potential solutions for ending the war.

In the exchange, Biden claimed that Hamas is the sole entity desiring the continuation of the conflict.

Trump responded by saying Biden has “become like a Palestinian,” which rights advocates said came across as a slur.

“Actually, Israel is the one (that wants to keep going), and you should let them go and let them finish the job. He (Biden) doesn’t want to do it. He’s become like a Palestinian but they don’t like him because he’s a very bad Palestinian. He’s a weak one,” Trump said.

On Friday, Trump again used the term ‘Palestinian’ in a similar way, this time saying in a rally that Democratic Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, who is Jewish, was Palestinian. “He’s become a Palestinian because they have a couple more votes or something,” he added.

The Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR) contested Biden's claim regarding Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu's desire for peace, while also condemning Trump's use of 'Palestinian' as a pejorative term.

“Former President Trump’s use of ‘Palestinian’ as an insult was racist. President Biden’s touting of his military support for the Israeli government’s genocide in Gaza was callous,” Corey Saylor, research and advocacy director at CAIR, said in a statement.

“To insinuate that being Palestinian is somehow a bad thing, as former President Trump did when he called President Biden Palestinian, reeks of racism and anti-Arab hatred,” Paul O’Brien, executive director of Amnesty International USA, told Reuters.

The backdrop of these events is a reported increase in Islamophobia and anti-Palestinian sentiment in the US, coinciding with the recent escalation in occupied territories.

The war on Gaza and the US's backing of the Israeli regime have spurred ongoing protests throughout the country, with demonstrators calling for an immediate ceasefire.

Source: Agencies