Fresh protests erupt at White House over Biden's 'Israel' policy
4 Min Read
A letter features 20 staffers calling out the administration for failing to act on the October 13 demands for "Israel" to implement "concrete measures" within 30 days to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
-
A plaque depicting the White House is posted behind a podium in the James Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House, Sunday, March 22, 2020, in Washington. (AP)
Internal dissent within the US government over President Joe Biden’s "Israel" policy continues to grow, as letters from White House staffers criticizing the administration’s handling of the war in Gaza keep piling up, Politico reported.
The latest letter, obtained by Nat Sec Daily, features a group of at least 20 staffers calling out the administration for failing to act on Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Pentagon Secretary Lloyd Austin’s October 13 demands for "Israel" to implement "concrete measures" within 30 days to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
In a letter dated October 13, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin called for significant improvements to alleviate Gaza’s humanitarian crisis, specifically urging "Israel" to facilitate a minimum of 350 daily truckloads of essential supplies.
Yet, by the end of October, the average daily truckload count entering Gaza stood at only 71, well below the requested target. Blinken noted that while there has been some progress, it remains inadequate.
The letter urged for immediate action, warning that without decisive steps, more lives will be lost. The staffers, who work across various sectors of the executive office but are not directly involved in Middle East policy, were granted anonymity due to fear of career consequences, as per the report.
On the legislative front, left-wing lawmakers, including Sens. Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, and Chris Van Hollen, are pushing a resolution to block further US arms sales to "Israel". The letter also argued that continued US support for Israeli military operations violates multiple federal laws, including the Conventional Arms Transfer Policy, the Foreign Assistance Act, and the Leahy Laws.
This letter is part of an ongoing wave of internal opposition, with growing calls for the US to reconsider its support for "Israel" amid the escalating humanitarian crises in Gaza and Lebanon, as reported by Politico.
Day 410: Gaza death toll nears 44,000; winter floods swamp tents
The Israeli occupation continues its war of genocide against the Gaza Strip, now ongoing for the 410th day, with the Gaza Health Ministry announcing that over the past 24 hours, the Israeli military committed three massacres, resulting in 50 martyrs and 110 injuries, with many victims still trapped under rubble or inaccessible in the streets.
Since October 7, 2023, the Israeli occupation has killed 43,972 Palestinians and injured 104,008 others, the Ministry confirmed Monday in its daily report.
Meanwhile, the Government Media Office in the Gaza Strip reported on Tuesday that forcibly displaced residents are facing severe hardships as floodwaters continue to seep into their tents.
In an urgent statement, the Office called on international organizations to coordinate with invading Israeli forces to provide aid to the hundreds of thousands of affected families, noting that "these appeals have yet to receive a response from the international community."
The statement also raised concerns over the potential establishment of Israeli settlements in the northern Gaza Strip, warning that such developments could exacerbate the already dire humanitarian crisis.
This is happening as the Israeli occupation has maintained its siege on northern Gaza for the 46th consecutive day, intensifying its military operations across the region.
The humanitarian situation in Gaza has reached catastrophic levels, with widespread displacement and destruction, UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Tor Wennesland warned on Monday.
It is worth noting that the Israeli occupation's war on Gaza continues with over 44,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, killed and around 104,000 injured since October 7, 2023, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry on Monday.
