WASHINGTON - The Biden administration's "National Strategy to Counter Islamophobia" cannot be taken seriously while the U.S. gives Israel a blank check in Gaza. The U.S. cannot claim to combat Islamophobia at home while attacking Muslim communities abroad, writes Mondoweiss.

as the International Court of Justice considers allegations of genocide against Israel, the White House will be convening an off-the-record discussion of its “National Strategy to Combat Islamophobia and related forms of discrimination.” First announced on November 1, 2023, following the stabbing death of a six-year old Wadea Al Fayoume near Chicago, President Biden and Vice President Harris said the first-ever U.S. National Strategy to Counter Islamophobia would aim to address the disproportionate hate-fueled attacks and discrimination faced by Muslims and those perceived as Muslims.

The announcement of the “development” of a National Strategy to Counter Islamophobia should be met with a critical eye. The United States cannot effectively combat Islamophobia while simultaneously supporting actions that harm Muslim communities abroad. This meeting announcement comes at a time when the United States faces international scrutiny for its support of Israel, including its military actions in Gaza, which have resulted in the deaths of countless innocent civilians, including children like Wadea Al-Fayoume.

This duplicity is almost like watching a magician distract you with one hand while doing something entirely different with the other. In this case, the paradox is condemning Islamophobia domestically while turning a blind eye to U.S. and Israeli military actions soaked with the blood of Islamophobia on the international stage. American Muslims don’t know whether to laugh or cry at the establishment of a National Strategy to Counter Islamophobia, because they can’t help but sense a glaring irony. The U.S. condemns hate and discrimination at home and does nothing about it.