A group of former Biden administration officials who resigned over the President’s policies in Gaza and Israel have released a final message urging President Biden to enforce U.S. law and ensure humanitarian assistance reaches Gaza. The message coincides with the expiration of a letter from Secretaries Blinken and Austin warning Israel of legal implications if aid is not allowed into Gaza. The former officials are calling on President Biden to do the right thing for the Palestinian people, his legacy, and the American people.
Background
- The Biden administration had set a 30-day deadline for Israel to increase aid to Gaza or face potential cuts in military assistance.
- Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and Secretary of State Antony Blinken laid out the 30-day deadline in an October 13 letter to Israeli Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer.
- The deadline passed without any consequences for Israel. Aid groups criticized Israel for not meeting the conditions set by the U.S., which included improving civilian access to necessities.
- The conflict in Gaza has caused widespread displacement, destroyed livelihoods and food systems, and severely disrupted humanitarian operations.
- This has resulted in catastrophic acute food insecurity and malnutrition.
- If the conflict continues and humanitarian activities are restricted, the situation will further deteriorate.
- Read the full IPC report on Gaza Acute Food Insecurity HERE.
“Over the course of the past year, officials resigned from across the Biden Administration in protest of the President’s immoral, illegal, and harmful policies towards Gaza and Palestine/Israel more broadly.
Today, on the eve of the expiration of the letter Secretaries Blinken and Austin sent to Israel warning of implications under U.S. law if humanitarian assistance is not allowed to flow into Gaza, the resignees release our final message to President Biden.
Our message: Enforce the 30-day letter. Enforce U.S. law. Push Israel to admit humanitarian assistance to Gaza. Do the right thing. For the Palestinian people. For your legacy. For the American people.
For America.”
The groups video message to Biden is viewable on the links below:
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTFop7c9a/
Insta: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DCSBr4yylAb/
X: https://x.com/AnnelleSheline/status/1856394736849875423
