Muslim leaders on Long Island puzzled by U.S. veto of ceasefire of war in Gaza

Muslim leaders on Long Island say they are baffled by the United States' veto of a U.N. resolution calling for a ceasefire to the Israel-Hamas war, predicting more death and starvation from "a man-made famine" unless the conflict ends.

The resolution Wednesday had the support 14 other members of the U.N. Security Council but the U.S. veto sunk its chance of putting a stop to the war as it begins its 20th month.

"It keeps me up at night, knowing that there are children literally starving to death," said Ammad Sheikh, a Muslim community leader based in Plainview. "It's so preventable. Letting in milk or flour can save these children."

Israel and a U.S.-backed foundation this week paused food delivery to Gaza after a series of shootings near distribution sites left dozens of Palestinians dead.

The vetoed resolution, which called the humanitarian crisis in Gaza "catastrophic," stated that Israel should lift all restrictions on the delivery of aid to the 2.1 million Palestinians in the territory.

"This is a man-made famine," Sheikh said. "This isn't a catastrophic flood or something ... and for all these children to die, they're innocent, they have nothing to do with politics, they have nothing to do with anything. It breaks my heart."

The United States said it rejected the U.N. resolution because it did not demand release of the estimated 20 hostages still held by Hamas as well as the bodies of other captives. The resolution also failed to condemn Hamas’ deadly Oct. 7 2023 attack, which killed about 1,200 people, and did not demand Hamas disarm and withdraw from Gaza, the U.S. said in defending the veto.

Some Jewish leaders on Long Island voiced support for the U.S. move, contending the militant group Hamas must be eliminated before true peace can come to the embattled region.

"The United Nations resolution is both disingenuous and superfluous," said Rabbi Howard Buechler of the Dix Hills Jewish Center.

The war was started by the "terrorists Hamas," Buechler said. "And the war will end when Hamas releases the remaining hostages. It's that straightforward."

But, said Isma Chaudhry, a leader of the Westbury-based Islamic Center of Long Island, that is separate from the human toll taken by conflict.

"There is no explanation to avoid or to stop this humanitarian aid," Chaudhry told Newsday. "The people are dying."

Since Israel's counterattack and the ongoing war, more than 54,000 people in Gaza, among them many children, have died, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which is controlled by Hamas.

Other Muslim Long Islanders said the veto just underscored what they've believed all along — the United States fully backs Israel’s military campaign.

"I hate to say that I'm disappointed, but not surprised," said Suha Syed, who graduated from SUNY Old Westbury in May. "Gaza is being systematically bombed, starved, flattened, decimated, and annihilated."

Sanaa Nadim, the Muslim chaplain at Stony Brook University, had a two-word description for the veto: "absolutely nonsense."

But she also said she agrees that the remaining hostages should be released.

"Everyone prays for peace," she said. "But as we speak, there are people that are being killed indiscriminately and without cause. Innocent civilians."