Biden's handling of war on Gaza prompts another official resignation
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Alexander Smith, a contractor for the USAID, criticized the agency's leader Samantha Power for not condemning war crimes, even though she has written books about genocide.
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The aftermath of overnight Israeli bombardment in Nuseirat, in the central Gaza Strip (AFP)
Another two US officials have quit their positions over the war on Gaza, accusing the Biden administration of lying about "Israel's" blocking of humanitarian aid to more than two million Palestinians besieged and starving in the Strip.
Alexander Smith, a contractor for the US Agency for International Development (USAID), told The Guardian that he was given the option of resigning or being fired after organizing a presentation on maternal and child mortality among Palestinians, which was abruptly canceled by USAID leadership last week.
Smith, a senior consultant on gender, maternal health, child health, and nutrition, resigned on Monday after four years with USAID, expressing concern in his resignation letter to the agency's leader Samantha Power over disparities in USAID's approach to various nations and humanitarian situations, as well as the general treatment of Palestinians.
Smith wrote that he could not perform his job where "specific people cannot be acknowledged as fully human, or where gender and human rights principles apply to some, but not to others, depending on their race."
He also shed light on the double standards when compared to Ukraine, where USAID prides itself on "programs supporting democracy, human rights, and rule of law," calling for legal repercussions when people are victimized.
“When it comes to the Palestinians, however, we avoid saying anything about their right to statehood, the abuses they’re currently suffering, or which powers have been violating their basic rights to freedom, self-determination, livelihoods, and clean water,” he added.
Read more: First Jewish Biden administration employee resigns over Gaza genocide
A senior US State Department official, Stacy Gilbert, resigned this week over disagreements with a newly published report claiming "Israel" was not blocking aid into Gaza, according to The Washington Post, citing two officials.
Gilbert served in the State Department’s Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration, and, on Tuesday, she emailed staff stating her belief that the State Department was wrong in its conclusion that "Israel" is not behind obstructing humanitarian assistance to Gaza, as per officials who read the letter.
A State Department spokesperson responded when asked about Gilbert's resignation, saying, "We have made clear we welcome diverse points of view and believe it makes us stronger."
Two dozen US officials discreetly quit
Smith and Gilbert's resignations bring the tally of Biden officials who have openly quit over US policy on Gaza to nine, however, Josh Paul, the first official to leave, said that at least two dozen more had departed discreetly, without making a public statement.
“I’m aware that there are other resignations pending in the near future from officials with similar concerns in their own areas of work,” he stated.
The resignations come as famine looms in Gaza, with just a trickle of humanitarian assistance reaching borders controlled by the occupation and a US-made dock allegedly designed for aid shipments suspended after sustaining massive damage by a storm earlier this week.
According to a USAID spokesperson, staff are "working tirelessly to accelerate aid, to advocate for greater protections for civilians and the improvement of deconfliction, and to advance diplomatic efforts."
Although Power has been more critical of "Israel" than other members of the administration, Smith believes she should go far further and condemn war crimes, expressing that it is "never legal to starve a civilian population."
“Everybody at the state department knows, and Samantha Power knows that. She has written three books about genocide and other development issues. I’ve read all of her books.”
Smith reported that his career took a turn last week when he was ordered to make redactions to a paper on maternal and child mortality in Gaza and the West Bank at an internal USAID conference.
He stated that adjustments included eliminating a slide describing applicable international humanitarian law, as well as any language indicating acceptance of a Palestinian state, including references to entities with the word Palestine in their title, such as the UN Family Planning Association (UNFPA Palestine).
After 24 hours, the talk was canceled entirely, and one USAID official stated they could not discuss "personnel matters" but alleged the talk was canceled because it was not part of Smith's "work responsibilities" to support "USAID's response to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza or the devastating impacts of the conflict on women and children.”
Smith maintained that his knowledge of mother and child health and nutrition was applicable to all aspects of the humanitarian situation.
After his talk was canceled, Smith was contacted by his direct employer, Highbury, and was informed that he would be terminated due to "personality differences" He was even told that the infectious disease branch of USAID was dissatisfied with him despite Smith showing The Guardian that his work ratings had been quite good in the years preceding the war on Gaza, and he had received matching salary rises.
'Israel' won't open Rafah crossing soon: Palestinian health minister
Palestinian Minister of Health Maged Abu Ramadan said there is no indication that "Israel" will reopen the Rafah border crossing soon, urging states to increase pressure on the Israeli government to let in aid and fuel.
"This is totally in the hands of the Israelis," Abu Ramadan said at a meeting in Geneva with the Association of the Accredited Correspondents to the United Nations (ACANU).
Abu Ramadan explained that even before the occupation and closure of the crossing, the Israeli regime was preventing the crossing of many patients seeking healthcare outside the Gaza Strip.
He noted that the crossing's closure "complicated the picture" for humanitarian aid and medical evacuations.
"Those needing treatment outside Gaza are now unable to reach Egypt or other locations for care," he said. "This is a crime against humanity, regardless of the number of casualties."
"Currently, people are deprived of almost all health services," he added.
