Washington, 2 November 2023 (dpa/MIA) - The White House on Wednesday announced a national plan to target Islamophobia in the United States.

The Biden administration will work with representatives of Muslim associations, advocacy groups, members of Congress and others to develop a national strategy to "counter the scourge of Islamophobia and hate in all its forms," White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement.

"For too long, Muslims in America, and those perceived to be Muslim, such as Arabs and Sikhs, have endured a disproportionate number of hate-fueled attacks and other discriminatory incident," Jean-Pierre said.

"We all mourn the recent barbaric killing of Wadea Al-Fayoume, a 6-year-old Palestinian American Muslim boy, and the brutal attack on his mother in their home outside Chicago."

The move is part of the efforts of US President Joe Biden's administration to strengthen and better coordinate the fight against Islamophobia, anti-Semitism and related forms of discrimination.

"there is no place for hate in America against anyone," the White House said.

The US administration's move comes in the midst of the conflict in Gaza and a tense situation in the Middle East. The catastrophic situation for the residents of the Gaza Strip and the high number of civilian casualties in the densely populated coastal area have triggered international criticism of Israel's actions.

Increasingly, governments of other countries that have expressed unwavering solidarity with Israel have come under the spotlight. Most notably, Biden's government is facing accusations from the Muslim world of standing too one-sidedly with Israel and ignoring the suffering of the Palestinians in Gaza.

Biden is also under pressure on the issue from Muslim voters in the US.

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