Destroyed buildings are seen along the coast of the Gaza Strip, June 25, 2024.
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12 former aides say Biden has prioritized politics over ‘fair policymaking’ on Gaza
Twelve U.S. government employees who resigned in protest of President Biden’s handling of Israel’s war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip are accusing the administration of prioritizing politics over “fair policymaking.”
The dozen signatories on a joint statement represent a wide spectrum of government staff, including former employees of the State Department, Department of Interior and White House, as well as former military officers. They resigned in protest at different times over the nine months of Israel’s war against Hamas following the U.S.-designated terrorist group’s Oct. 7 attack.
“Both our individual and common experiences demonstrate an Administration that has prioritized politics over just and fair policymaking; profit over national security; falsehoods over facts; directives over debate; ideology over experience, and special interest over the equal enforcement of the law,” they wrote.
“The impact of these injustices has resulted in tens of thousands of innocent Palestinian lives taken, reflecting a clear picture to the world of whose lives matter, and whose lives simply do not to United States policy makers. As members of the United States Government, each of us witnessed this abrogation of American values, leading us to resign.”
The twelve wrote that they have “grave concerns with current U.S. policy towards the crisis in Gaza, and U.S. policies and practices towards Palestine and Israel more broadly.”
The statement lays out six policy recommendations for the administration to implement, calling for the U.S. to “faithfully execute the law” related to American weapons deliveries to Israel.
“The Administration is currently willfully violating multiple U.S. laws and attempting to deny or distort facts, use loopholes, or manipulate processes to ensure a continuous flow of lethal weapons to Israel,” the statement reads.
The signatories call for the U.S. to exert all leverage to bring fighting to a halt, secure the release of Israeli hostages from Hamas and the release of Palestinian minors in Israeli jails; surge humanitarian support to Gaza; support of self-determination for the Palestinian people and “an end to military occupation and settlements, including in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.”
Welcome to The Hill’s Defense & National Security newsletter, I’m Ellen Mitchell — your guide to the latest developments at the Pentagon, on Capitol Hill and beyond. Tomorrow, July 4, is a federal holiday with no defense newsletter. We’ll be back Friday.
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NATO will hosts its annual summit in Washington next week at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, July 9-11.
In Other News
Branch out with a different read from The Hill:
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The National Archives will hold a celebration of the 248th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence, with the presentation of colors by the Continental Color Guard, singing of the national anthem, performance by the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment, the Old Guard, and Fife and Drum Corps and a a reading of the Declaration of Independence by historical reenactors, at 9 a.m.
The National Park Servicewill hold it National Independence Day Parade, featuring a fife and drum corps, marching bands, floats, military units, giant balloons, and equestrian and drill teams, at 11:45 a.m.
The National Park Service, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the Department of the Army, the Boeing Company, American Airlines, and PBSwill host the traditional annual event: “A Capitol Fourth Concert,” at 8 p.m.
What We’re Reading
News we’ve flagged from other outlets:
Air Force Ospreys in Japan resume flight ops (Military Times)
Here’s what Biden and Trump actually did for veterans as president (Military.com)
Former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley on Tuesday took a swipe at ABC News anchor George Stephanopoulos, who dismissed her suggestion last year … Read more
