DHS staffers condemn dept. over Gaza support shortfall amid genocide
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The open letter directed to Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas serves as the latest evidence of divisions within the US administration.
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In this Monday, March 1, 2021 photo, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas speaks during a press briefing at the White House in Washington. (AP)
Almost 140 employees of the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) criticized the DHS for not providing adequate support to Palestinians in the besieged Gaza Strip, which has endured relentless airstrikes by the Israeli entity for over two months.
In an open letter directed to Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, DHS employees conveyed their profound discontent with the Department's communication, citing a noticeable absence of acknowledgment, support, and condolences for the thousands of Palestinians who have been killed in the heavily blockaded Gaza Strip.
“The grave humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the conditions in the West Bank are circumstances that the Department would generally respond to in various ways. Yet DHS leadership has seemingly turned a blind eye to the bombing of refugee camps, hospitals, ambulances, and civilians,” read the letter, dated November 22.
The letter's endorsers comprise 139 employees from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and its affiliated agencies, including Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
The letter highlighted that certain employees chose to sign the document anonymously due to concerns about potential repercussions amid a crackdown on pro-Palestinian voices in the US.
In further detail, the letter urged the department to present an impartial and equitable portrayal of the situation, fostering an environment where individuals can express their views respectfully without apprehension of professional consequences.
The big picture
The letter serves as the latest evidence of divisions within President Joe Biden's administration, facing criticism for its position on "Israel's" harsh military aggression in the impoverished Palestinian enclave.
Earlier today, a vigil was held in front of the White House by Biden administration staffers and political appointees who urged for a permanent ceasefire to the war on Gaza.
Almost 50 staff members, including political appointees, administration staffers, and civil service career staff attended the vigil, with most donning sunglasses and masks to hide their identities.
Banners read “President Biden, your staff demands a ceasefire” as candles were lit spelling out “Ceasefire”.
During the vigil, flowers were set in memory of the victims in Gaza, while the names of Palestinians killed since the end of the humanitarian pause on December 1 were read aloud from a 33-page list.
This came as American Jewish protesters blocked a 110 freeway during rush hour in Los Angeles, demanding an end to Israeli aggression on Gaza.
The demonstrators, sitting squat on the ground side by side, effectively halted traffic, causing extensive traffic jams stretching for kilometers in a city already plagued by regular congestion. The protest was organized by a group calling themselves "IfNotNow", which identifies itself as "a group of American Jews seeking to end US support for the Israeli apartheid system."
Read next: Kamala Harris wants White House to show more public concern for Gaza
