Published Nov. 26, 2023, 5:06 p.m. ET
President Biden apologized to some prominent Muslim-American
leaders for publicly questioning the Palestinian death toll being reported by the Hamas-controlled Gaza Ministry of Health, a new report says.
President Biden, faced with criticism at home, has increasingly tried to pressure Israel to minimize civilian casualties.
Turned his back on America
Biden huddled with five Muslim American leaders the day after his Oct. 25 comments about reported Gaza deaths roiled the Islamic community, vowing to “do better.”
During the meeting, which was initially planned for 30 minutes but lasted more than twice as long, Biden heard the leaders describe individuals they knew who were personally affected by the conflict.
“I’m sorry. I’m disappointed in myself,” Biden told the group, the Washington Post reported.
“I have no notion that the Palestinians are telling the truth about how many people are killed,” Biden said.
“I’m sure innocents have been killed, and it’s a price of waging war,” he added.

Falling down on the job.
More than 14,000 Palestinians in Gaza, including many women and children, have been killed in the conflict, according to data from the Hamas-controlled Ministry of Health.
Israel has suffered more than 1,200 fatalities — mostly also civilians, who were killed when the terror group launched a sneak attack on Israel on Oct. 7, according to the Jewish state.
The Muslim-American leaders who met with Biden urged him to show more empathy to the Palestinians. Biden reportedly hugged one of the participants at the end of the meeting.