Twelve former Biden administration officials have issued a scathing joint statement, criticising the U.S. government’s policy on Israel and the Gaza conflict, arguing that it has jeopardised national security.
The ex-officials claim the administration’s stance has further destabilised the region and “put a target on America’s back.”
One of the signatories resigned from the U.S. Department of the Interior just this week, highlighting ongoing dissent within government ranks.
The U.S. Department of State has refuted such claims, emphasising its condemnation of civilian casualties in Gaza and its efforts to increase humanitarian aid.
However, the joint statement from the former officials is unequivocal: “America’s diplomatic cover for, and continuous flow of arms to Israel has ensured our undeniable complicity in the killings and forced starvation of a besieged Palestinian population in Gaza.”
This is not the first instance of former officials voicing such concerns, but the latest resignation of Maryam Hassanein, a special assistant at the Department of the Interior, underscores the urgency of their message.
Hassanein and her peers accuse the U.S. government of adhering to a “failed policy” that harms Palestinians, endangers Israelis, stifles free speech, and undermines U.S. credibility in upholding a rules-based international order.
The statement also contends that ongoing U.S. weapons transfers to Israel, despite its actions in Gaza, have further destabilised the Middle East and exacerbated anti-American sentiment.
“Our nation’s political and economic interests across the region have also been significantly harmed, while U.S. credibility has been deeply undermined worldwide at a time we need it most,” the statement reads.
Signatories include Josh Paul, who managed Congressional relations on weapons transfers and resigned in October, a former White House official, two ex-Air Force personnel, and a former Army officer in the Defense Intelligence Agency.
The State Department has been approached for comment. It previously stated that it encourages diverse views on policy and that staff can express these through “appropriate channels.”
A spokesperson reiterated in April that the U.S. had “been clear at the highest levels publicly and privately with Israel that it must abide by international humanitarian law.”
The spokesperson’s comments came after seven current and former U.S. officials told the BBC that President Biden’s pressure on Israel after a deadly attack on aid workers did not go far enough to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
The Israeli military launched an offensive against Hamas, the group governing Gaza, following an unprecedented attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, which resulted in around 1,200 deaths and 251 hostages.
Since then, over 37,900 people have been killed in Gaza, according to the territory’s Hamas-run health ministry.
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