(CNN) A Palestinian American doctor walked out of a meeting with President Joe Biden before it was over Tuesday evening, underscoring the high tensions, anger and concern from Arab, Palestinian and Muslim American communities amid the Israel-Hamas war.
Dr. Thaer Ahmad, an emergency physician from Chicago who traveled to Gaza earlier this year, told CNN he abruptly left the meeting that included Vice President Kamala Harris, national security adviser Jake Sullivan, other administration officials and a small group of Muslim community leaders.
While the president has often faced protests and interruptions at public events in the last several months, Ahmad’s decision to leave the meeting is perhaps the most intimate moment of protest the president has faced to date since Israel’s campaign in Gaza began following Hamas’ October 7 attack.
