Ex-US officials slam Biden’s Gaza policy as ‘failure, national security threat’

The joint statement released by 12 former U.S. government officials criticized the Biden administration’s policy toward Gaza, labeling it a “failure and a threat to U.S. national security.”

They condemn America’s diplomatic support and arms supply to Israel, linking it directly to what they describe as the “killings and forced starvation” of Palestinians in Gaza, actions they assert violate international humanitarian law and U.S. statutes.

The signatories, comprising former officials from the State Department, USAID, U.S. military, and political appointees, argue that such policies not only undermine U.S. credibility globally but also jeopardize national security by making the U.S. a target and exacerbating tensions in the Middle East.

They highlight incidents such as the killing of U.S. service members in Jordan and evacuations of diplomatic facilities as evidence of this risk.

According to the former U.S. officials, who described the current Gaza policy as “failed,” the policy has not made Israelis “any safer” and has “emboldened extremists” while being devastating for the Palestinian people.

“As a group of dedicated Americans in service of our country, we insist that there is another way,” the statement said, outlining steps to ensure that a “catastrophic policy failure like this can never happen again.”

The statement proposes several policy changes, including enforcing U.S. Leahy Laws to prevent military aid to forces involved in human rights abuses, using diplomatic leverage to end the conflict, expanding humanitarian aid, supporting Palestinian self-determination and enhancing transparency and oversight in U.S. foreign policy decision-making.

The former officials urge their colleagues and the administration to reconsider current policies, asserting that a different approach is urgently needed to avoid further harm and promote peace in the region.