Statement Condemning the Ongoing Genocide of Palestinians

The State of Israel is committing a genocide against the Palestinian people, I believe it must end. People of conscience cannot remain silent in the face of the horrific and unspeakable acts being committed by the State of Israel in Gaza and the West Bank. I stand in complete solidarity with the Palestinian people in their struggle for liberation. As a Muslim person, watching the violence over the last few weeks has been a deeply painful and personal thing to experience. Countless Ward 10 residents, Minneapolis movement leaders, and Muslim community members and business leaders across the state have asked me to speak as an elected leader on this issue. I am proud to have marched alongside you all in solidarity with Palestine for many years; today please read my statement on this issue.

In the last month, the State of Israel has committed numerous war crimes, used inhumane tactics like dropping white phosphorus on Palestinians, repeatedly bombed refugee camps, as well as public institutions and critical infrastructure like hospitals, schools, and even ambulances. The situation has become so dire that mosques are using the call to prayer speakers to communicate a plea for help as Gaza is carpeted with bombs. Having successfully fought to get call to prayer legalized in Minneapolis, this detail broke my heart.

I cannot stand by as our Palestinian siblings are experiencing genocide. Genocides flourish off fear and apathy. It is important we all stand against the State of Israel’s actions and do everything in our power to end Minnesota’s investment in this ongoing genocide. As a Minneapolis City Councilmember, I call on Governor Walz and the State Board of Investment to immediately divest from all aid to the State of Israel and divest from all companies complicit in this genocide. Specifically I call on the State to divest completely from Elbit Systems, a weapons manufacturer that supplies the State of Israel’s genocide efforts — Minnesota currently owns over $1 million worth of shares in Elbit Systems. I also join millions of people around the world and here in the US in calling on President Biden to call for an immediate ceasefire and to end military aid to the State of Israel.

I also have been horrified by the rise of both Islamophobia and antisemitism and the heinous hate crimes we have seen against both Muslim and Jewish people across the country as a result of this crisis. In the last few weeks, multiple people in this country have been murdered and demonstrations have been attacked. In Minnesota, we have seen multiple violent attacks against Muslim hijabi women and yet another likely arson of a South Minneapolis mosque. This same mosque was the target of a hate crime just this spring.

Working and oppressed people across the world must stand together in solidarity — that is the only way we will all be free. Palestinians have repeatedly stood with oppressed people across the world. For the sake of humanity, we must all stand with Palestine and work to bring an end to this genocide. In the long-term, if we want the violence to stop, the Palestinian right to self-determination must be guaranteed, and the apartheid must be ended.