In a significant display of dissent, at least nine officials from the Biden administration have resigned over the president’s stance on Israel’s ongoing offensive in Gaza. These resignations reflect deep discontent with President Joe Biden’s support for Israel during its nearly nine-month-long conflict, with some former officials accusing the administration of ignoring Israeli atrocities in the Palestinian enclave.
The Biden administration has consistently denied these allegations, highlighting its criticism of civilian casualties in Gaza and its efforts to enhance humanitarian aid to the region. Despite these efforts, health officials report that nearly 38,000 individuals have been killed during Israel’s assault.
Israel initiated its offensive in Gaza following an attack by Hamas on October 7, which resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 people and the taking of 250 hostages, according to Israeli figures.
The resignations began with Josh Paul, the director of the State Department’s Bureau of Political-Military Affairs, who left his post in October. Paul cited Washington’s “blind support” for Israel as his primary reason for resignation. His departure set a precedent for others who felt similarly disillusioned.
In November, Harrison Mann, a US Army major and Defense Intelligence Agency official, resigned over the Gaza policy and later went public with his reasons in May. He expressed deep concerns about the administration’s approach to the conflict.
Tariq Habash, a Palestinian American serving as a special assistant in the Education Department’s Office of Planning, resigned in January. Habash accused the Biden administration of turning a “blind eye” to the atrocities occurring in Gaza, reflecting a sentiment shared by several other resigning officials.
Annelle Sheline, who was part of the State Department’s Human Rights Bureau, resigned in late March. In an article published by CNN, Sheline wrote that she could no longer serve a government that “enables such atrocities.” Her resignation underscored the moral and ethical dilemmas faced by some administration officials.
The wave of resignations continued into April, with Hala Rharrit, an Arabic language spokesperson for the State Department, departing her post. She expressed her opposition to the United States’ policy on Gaza on her LinkedIn page, further emphasizing the internal discord within the administration.
In May, Lily Greenberg Call became the first Jewish political appointee to resign. Serving as a special assistant to the Chief of Staff in the Interior Department, Greenberg Call stated, “As a Jew, I cannot endorse the Gaza catastrophe,” in an op-ed for The Guardian. Her resignation highlighted the diverse backgrounds and perspectives of those opposed to the administration’s stance.
Alexander Smith, a contractor for USAID, resigned in late May, citing censorship after the agency canceled the publication of his presentation on maternal and child mortality among Palestinians. The agency claimed that the presentation had not gone through proper review and approval, a reasoning that Smith found insufficient.
Stacy Gilbert, who served in the State Department’s Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration, left her position in late May. Gilbert resigned over an administration report to Congress that she believed falsely stated that Israel was not blocking humanitarian aid to Gaza.
Most recently, Maryam Hassanein, a special assistant at the Department of the Interior, quit her job on Tuesday. She criticized Biden’s foreign policy, describing it as “genocide-enabling” and dehumanizing Arabs and Muslims. Her departure marks the latest in a series of resignations that underscore the growing discontent within the administration.
The administration’s handling of the Gaza conflict has not only led to internal strife but also attracted widespread public and international scrutiny. Critics argue that the US has failed to adequately address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, despite its stated efforts to boost aid and criticize civilian casualties.
In response to the resignations, the Biden administration has maintained that it is committed to addressing the humanitarian impact of the conflict. Officials have pointed to the administration’s efforts to increase humanitarian aid to Gaza and its criticism of civilian casualties as evidence of its balanced approach.
However, the resignations suggest a significant rift within the administration, with some officials feeling that the measures taken are insufficient and that the US’s support for Israel is too one-sided.
