Top Biden aides to meet with Muslim, Arab community leaders amid their outcry over his Israel stance

President Joe Biden’s senior aides plan to meet with Muslim and Arab American leaders in Michigan on Thursday, as he continues to face sharp criticism from those groups — as well as some progressive and younger voters — for his response to the Israel-Hamas war.

A source familiar with Biden's plans confirmed the upcoming meeting, which will include Steve Benjamin, the administration’s public engagement director; Mazen Basrawi, the liaison between the White House and American Muslim communities; the U.S. Agency for International Development administrator, Samantha Power; the principal deputy national security adviser, Jon Finer; and Tom Perez, the intergovernmental affairs director.

Jaime Citron and Dan Koh, other top Biden aides, will also attend, the source added.

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters on Wednesday that the administration is focused on outreach.

«The president has met with Americans with varying opinions about the conflict between Israel and Hamas.… Officials at the White House are also in regular contact with Muslim and Arab American leaders in Michigan, across the country,» she said.

The planned meeting comes as the president has had to repeatedly contend with pro-Palestinian protestors who have been vocal in their opposition to how he has handled the American response since Hamas’ Oct. 7 terror attack on Israel sparked a war, in which Israel has been bombarding Gaza as it targets Hamas fighters.

More than 27,000 people have been killed, according to the Gaza Ministry of Health; 1,200 people have died in Israel, the prime minister's office said.

Biden has faced demonstrators interrupting his speeches in recent weeks, including last month when he was interrupted some 14 times in