Biden Administration Draws Controversy: State Department Official Resigns Amid Israel-Hamas Conflict

A State Department official announced on LinkedIn Wednesday that he has resigned from the agency citing a policy disagreement with the Biden administration's approach to the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict. Josh Paul, who has served in the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs for over 11 years, stated that his resignation was due to concerns over the continued provision of lethal assistance to Israel.

"Allow me to clarify," Paul stated. "The Hamas assault on Israel was not merely a horrific act; it was a grotesque abomination of the highest order. I am also of the belief that any potential escalation by Iran-linked factions like Hezbollah, or by Iran itself, would constitute a further callous exploitation of the already devastating tragedy. Nonetheless, I firmly believe that the actions undertaken by Israel, along with the unwavering American support for those actions and for the status quo of the occupation, will ultimately result in increased and prolonged suffering for both the Israeli and Palestinian populations—something that ultimately goes against the long-term interests of the United States."

In the southern Gaza Strip on October 19, 2023, amidst the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, a man is seen carrying a wounded child at the site of an Israeli strike. The image was captured by Yasser Qudih for REUTERS.

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In pictures: The deadly clashes in Israel and Gaza

"This Administration's response, along with much of Congress, is a reactionary response based on confirmation bias, political convenience, intellectual bankruptcy, and bureaucratic inertia," Paul remarks. "It is both highly disappointing and predictable. Decades of using the same approach have shown that prioritizing security over peace does not lead to either security or peace. The truth is that blindly supporting one side is detrimental in the long run to the interests of the people on both sides."

Paul explains that he cannot endorse a set of policy decisions that involve supplying weapons, which he considers to be short-sighted, damaging, unjust, and contradicting the very values we publicly uphold.

The former State Department official expressed concerns in an interview with The New York Times, stating that the legal safeguards in place to prevent American weapons from reaching human rights violators are failing. He highlighted the issue by mentioning that the US supports Israel, despite its actions of cutting off essential resources such as water, food, medical care, and electricity in Gaza.

Speaking to the Times, he remarked, "There comes a point where one might think, well, it's beyond my control, but at least Congress will push back. However, in this case, there is unlikely to be any significant resistance from Congress, nor are there any other oversight mechanisms or platforms for debate. These factors played a role in influencing my decision."

Reached for comment, a State Department spokesperson told CNN the agency declines to comment on personnel matters.