CAIR-NJ Joins House Dems on Capitol Hill to Denounce Israel’s Gaza Ceasefire Violation

(WASHINGTON, D.C., 3/25/2025) – The New Jersey chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NJ) today joined members of Congress during a press conference on Capitol Hill to condemn Israel’s violation of the so-called ceasefire agreement, which has intensified the US-backed genocide of Palestinians in Gaza as the death toll mounts.

WATCH DC NEWS CONFERENCE

The latest US-backed Israeli bombardment in Gaza has slaughtered at least 634 people including at least 183 children, 94 women, 34 elderly people, and another 125 men, since Israeli attacks ramped up again on March 18, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health.

The two-month-old ceasefire also left more than 1,100 people critically injured, with more still trapped under the rubble. Before the attacks, Israel imposed a total blockade on humanitarian aid intended for Gaza beginning March 2, the second day of the holy month of Ramadan, which remains in effect today.

READ MORE: Israel strikes Gaza, breaking ceasefire

In a statement Tuesday during the press conference, CAIR-NJ Executive Director Selaedin Maksut said:

“I stand here today, alongside leaders of conscience, to say what should be obvious: The ongoing massacre in Gaza must end.

The United States has the power and the moral responsibility to stop this. Yet, instead of demanding an immediate and permanent ceasefire, our government continues to send weapons, while shielding Benjamin Netanyahu and the Israeli government from accountability as it commits what experts around the world have described as genocide.

Today, we call on Congress to act swiftly. End military aid to Israel. Support an immediate, lasting ceasefire, and the release of all hostages and political prisoners. Push for full accountability for the war crimes being committed against the indigenous Palestinian people. Anything less is complicity.

In these last few days of Ramadan, we pray that God restores justice and peace to the region.”

The press conference came as Israel announced plans for a full military occupation of Gaza, where Palestinian genocide deaths have now far exceeded 50,000 since October 2023. Speakers condemned the Trump administration’s continued military and diplomatic support for Israel despite documented war crimes and violations of international law.

Also Tuesday, the United Nations announced it is withdrawing 30% of its international staff from Gaza after an Israeli air strike on March 19 killed a Bulgarian UN staff member and severely wounded six other foreign workers.

Maksut was joined by U.S. Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman, a Democrat of New Jersey, along with Reps. Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), Ilhan Omar (MN-5) Greg Casar (TX-35), Mark Pocan (WI-2), Delia Ramirez(IL-3) and Nydia Velázquez (NY-7), who collectively called for an immediate and permanent ceasefire.

CONTACT: CAIR-NJ Communications Manager Aya Elamroussi, 551-208-5482, aelamroussi@cair.com

CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.

END

CAIR-NJ Renews Calls for Immediate Halt to U.S. Arms Shipments to Israel After Amnesty International Report on Genocide in Gaza

(Newark, NJ – Dec. 5, 2024) – The New Jersey chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NJ) today welcomed the release of a powerful new report by Amnesty International deeming the ongoing violent atrocities in Palestine a genocide. CAIR-NJ reiterates its demands to the Biden administration to end weapon shipments to Israel.

The report titled “You Feel Like You Are Subhuman’: Israel’s Genocide Against Palestinians in Gaza” was released Thursday, concluding that Israel has been committing  genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.

“Amnesty International’s report demonstrates that Israel has carried out acts prohibited under the Genocide Convention, with the specific intent to destroy Palestinians in Gaza. These acts include killings, causing serious bodily or mental harm and deliberately inflicting on Palestinians in Gaza conditions of life calculated to bring about their physical destruction. Month after month, Israel has treated Palestinians in Gaza as a subhuman group unworthy of human rights and dignity, demonstrating its intent to physically destroy them,” Agnès Callamard, Secretary General of Amnesty International, said in announcing the report.

“Our damning findings must serve as a wake-up call to the international community: this is genocide. It must stop now.

“States that continue to transfer arms to Israel at this time must know they are violating their obligation to prevent genocide and are at risk of becoming complicit in genocide. All states with influence over Israel, particularly key arms suppliers like the USA and Germany, but also other EU member states, the UK and others, must act now to bring Israel’s atrocities against Palestinians in Gaza to an immediate end.”

In a statement, CAIR New Jersey Executive Director Selaedin Maksut said:

“We welcome the courageous stand taken by Amnesty International, a globally respected human rights organization, in calling out what is now undeniable: that the far-right government of Benjamin Netanyahu is committing genocide against the Palestinian people in Gaza. Unfortunately, the Biden administration has been directly complicit in these atrocities, continuing to support Israel’s actions despite the overwhelming evidence.”

“Amnesty’s report, along with numerous other accounts of Israel’s genocidal actions, makes it clear that the U.S. must immediately stop supplying weapons to the Israeli government. We demand that President Biden take decisive action to end this complicity and halt all arms shipments.”

“History will judge future generations for their response to this crisis. We must choose today whether we will stand for justice or turn a blind eye to genocide. The time to act is now.”

Amnesty’s report comes two weeks after the International Criminal Court issued warrants of arrest for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.

The Israeli military has reportedly advised its soldiers who invaded the Gaza Strip to avoid travelling abroad for fear of arrest in the aftermath of the court orders.

CAIR is America’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization, with a mission to enhance the understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.

END

CONTACT: CAIR-NJ Communications Manager Aya Elamroussi, aelamroussi@cair.com, 551-208-5482