Biden鈥檚 Gaza stance has endangered US: Ex-officials

A map of the United States is seen as President Joe Biden speaks during a visit to the D.C. Emergency Operations Center, Tuesday, July 2, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo)
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  • Statement signed by 12 former staffers who resigned over Gaza policy
  • Diplomatic, military support for Israel 鈥榟as ensured our undeniable complicity in the killings and forced starvation of a besieged Palestinian population鈥�

LONDON: The Biden administration鈥檚 policy on Gaza has endangered US national security, 12 former officials have warned.

The group, who have variously resigned over the US government鈥檚 handling of the war, added that the president鈥檚 stance has 鈥減ut a target on America鈥檚 back.鈥�

In a joint statement, the 12 鈥� including former military and White House staff, and a Department of the Interior official who only resigned on July 2, said: 鈥淎merica鈥檚 diplomatic cover for, and continuous flow of arms to Israel, has ensured our undeniable complicity in the killings and forced starvation of a besieged Palestinian population in Gaza.鈥�

The statement added that Washington鈥檚 stance, including continued military assistance to Israel, amounts to a 鈥渇ailed policy鈥� that has threatened the safety of both Israelis and Palestinians, helped to further destabilize the region, limited free speech and damaged US credibility.

鈥淥ur nation鈥檚 political and economic interests across the region have also been significantly harmed, while US credibility has been deeply undermined worldwide at a time we need it most, when the world is characterized by a new era of strategic competition,鈥� the statement continued.

The State Department said in April that it welcomed feedback from staff through 鈥渁ppropriate channels,鈥� and that Washington had 鈥渂een clear at the highest levels publicly and privately with Israel that it must abide by international humanitarian law.鈥�

That came in the aftermath of an Israeli strike on an aid convoy in Gaza that killed seven charity workers earlier that month.

Israel鈥檚 military campaign in Gaza has so far killed more than 37,900 Palestinians in the enclave since Oct. 8, according to local officials.