Canadian poet Rupi Kaur chooses not to attend White House visit due to the Gaza situation

Canadian poet Rupi Kaur has declined an invitation to a Diwali celebration at the White House as a form of protest against the Biden administration's response to the Israel-Hamas war. Kaur expressed her refusal in a social media post, stating that she would not accept any invitation from an institution that supports the collective punishment of civilians. She also urged other South Asians to hold the US government accountable. The Diwali event, scheduled for November 8th, will be hosted by Vice-President Kamala Harris, who has yet to comment on Kaur's remarks. Kaur, the poet behind the critically acclaimed book "Milk and Honey," expressed her surprise at the administration's decision to celebrate Diwali, which is a Hindu festival of lights symbolizing righteousness and knowledge overcoming falsehood and ignorance. She accused the US government of justifying genocide against Palestinians. The war, which began on October 7th after a Hamas attack on Israel, has resulted in the deaths of over 1,400 individuals, according to Israeli authorities. The Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza claims that more than 10,300 Palestinians have been killed, including over 4,100 children, due to Israel's retaliatory attacks. The Israeli siege on Gaza has also led to severe limitations on basic necessities such as food, water, and fuel for the 2.2 million people residing there. Kaur also criticized President Joe Biden for not supporting a humanitarian ceasefire, a stance that has the backing of the United Nations. She stated that she, as a Sikh woman, refuses to allow her likeness to be used in whitewashing the actions of the administration. While Biden has called for a humanitarian "pause" in the fighting, he has expressed support for Israel and emphasized the need to protect Palestinian civilians and minimize harm to them during military operations. The administration has requested more than $14 billion in aid to Israel and has previously announced $100 million in aid for Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank.