US express concerns over rise of anti-Muslim sentiments after Gaza tragedy

The United States (US) on Thursday expressed concerns over a rise in anti-Semitism and anti-Muslim sentiments within the country and across the globe following the Israeli aggression in Gaza.

Since October 7 last year, Israeli forces have martyred over 34,000 Palestinians, including women and children and wounded over 80,000 people so far in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. Most of the enclave's 2.3 million people are homeless. Hospitals have been destroyed, medicine is in short supply and people in Gaza are at risk of famine.

In his weekly briefing, the US State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller said: “We have unfortunately seen a rise in anti-Semitism. We have seen a rise in anti-Muslim summit, and the president has spoken to this. It’s something we’ve been incredibly concerned about both here at home and around the world.”

Responding to a question, the spokesperson said: “It’s absolutely a concern.” He further said that the secretary spoke to this on a number of occasions, including in Israel, when he said that “we – the worst thing that can happen is people dehumanising each other, and that once you see people on either side of this conflict dehumanising each other, it gives license – not actual license, but gives them – they give themselves license to do any sorts of things that we would oppose and that are not in anyone’s interests.”

He further said that they obviously don’t want to see anyone spreading hate in any form. Miller said that Washington was trying to bring an end to the Israel-Hamas “conflict” as soon as possible and find a durable solution to this conflict because it was in the interests of Muslims, Jews and Christians, Israelis, and other countries in the region alike.

“It is in the interest of all parties to see this conflict end, and that’s what we’re trying to accomplish.”

To a question about the two-state solution of the conflict, the spokesperson said: We think ultimately that is the path forward, and I know it’s incredibly difficult and it looks incredibly bleak, but it is our assessment that at the end of this conflict – it is going to end – that if there is not a path forward, Israel is going to be back with the same security risks it has had since before October 7th.”

He added: “It is going to be in the same position with respect to a lack of relationships with all of its neighbours. And it is in Israel’s broader security interests to find a path forward for reconciliation with the Palestinian people, as difficult as that seems, and so that’s why we’re going to continue to pursue it.”