National ‘Uncommitted’ Movement Criticizes President Biden Over Israel’s Ceasefire Proposal

A Democratic voter uncommitted to President Joe Biden rallies outside of a polling location as a car drives past at Oakman Elementary School in Dearborn, Michigan, on Feb. 27, 2024. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

A national “Uncommitted” campaign protesting the Biden administration’s handling of the Gaza war on May 31 responded to President Joe Biden’s endorsement of an Israel proposal for a six-week ceasefire, calling it a “welcome development” but “will likely fall flat.”

President Biden earlier announced that Israel is proposing a “roadmap” to a six-week ceasefire and gradual withdrawal from the Gaza region, and urged terror group Hamas to accept the deal.

A senior U.S. official said the four-and-a-half page plan had been sent to Hamas for review on Thursday, and that it was “almost identical” to a proposal the militant group had already accepted. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said on Friday that it backed the plan.

Uncommitted is a political protest group centered around criticism of U.S. aid to Israel in its war with Hamas. The group began in Michigan before going national in March. It aims to put pressure on President Biden by having Democrats vote as “uncommitted” in the party’s presidential primaries around the country. The uncommitted vote won 13 percent of the vote in Michigan, 19 percent in Minnesota, and 18 percent in Kentucky.

Layla Elabed, spokesperson for Uncommitted and sister of Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mi) released a statement on May 31 saying “For months, Netanyahu has played Biden like a fiddle as the window to save lives—and the fate of American democracy—closes on all of us.”

She continued, “In calling on Netanyahu to accept a six-week ceasefire, Biden is slowly grasping the political fallout of his backing of Israel’s horrific assault on Gaza, yet he offers Netanyahu only carrots and words but no sticks on ending weapons transfers.”

The announcement of a potential ceasefire follows a wave of outrage from some progressive Democrats over President Biden’s continued supply of arms to Israel. They allege he is being too permissive with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s operations in the Rafah region, which this week resulted in the death of 50 civilians, and at least 200 injuries.

Rafah had become a gathering place for nearly a million refugees fleeing the conflict in oter parts of Gaza; it is also viewed by Israel as the final stronghold of terrorist group Hamas. President Biden had previously said that an Israeli military penetration into Rafah constituted a “red line” which, if crossed, would cause him to withdraw military aid from Israel.

Nydia Velazquez (D-N.Y.) wrote on May 28 on X, “The scenes out of Rafah have been utterly horrific and a clear crossing of a red line. The US should not supply weapons to fuel these atrocities, and our government must use every tool it can to stop this killing and bring about an immediate ceasefire.”

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) also said on X: “The IDF’s attack on a tent camp of innocents in Rafah is an indefensible atrocity. This was done in open defiance of [President Biden’s] red line and the ICJ’s call for a ceasefire. It is long past time for the President to live up to his word and suspend military aid.”

The potential, three-phase drawdown of the war in Gaza includes the release of Israeli hostages, the repopulating of Gaza with its refugees, and the withdrawal of Israeli Defense Force troops, President Biden said. The proposal has been sent to Hamas leadership for consideration.

Reuters contributed to this report.