The U.N. Security Council called for humanitarian pauses in Gaza
Protesting Israel’s War in Gaza: The U.S. Response to the Hamas Attacks and Call for a Continuing War
Israel launched a ground invasion last month in Gaza in response to bloody attacks by Hamas on Oct. 7 that killed about 1,200 people, according to the Israeli government. According to Gaza’s health ministry, more than 11,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israel’s military offensive.
We call on the president to demand a cease-fire, to release the Israeli hostages and to free the Palestinians who have been arbitrarily jailed in order to restore basic services in the area.
Some 400 appointees and staff members from some 40 government agencies signed a letter to President Biden protesting his support of Israel in its war in Gaza.
The letter submitted on Tuesday and the one that is being sent to other employees are anonymous out of concern for our personal safety, and potential loss of our jobs. The signatories of the State Department dissent cables must disclose their names, but those cables have not been released publicly.
Although the Biden administration has recently started voicing concern over the high numbers of Palestinian civilians killed while urging Israel to show restraint, that budding criticism does not appear to be placating many in the U.S. government.
The letter, a copy of which was reviewed by The New York Times, began by denouncing the Oct. 7 attacks by Hamas, then urged Mr. Biden to stop the bloodshed caused by Israel’s retaliatory military campaign in Gaza.
Two political appointees who helped organize the letter to Mr. Biden said the majority of the signatories are political appointees of various faiths who work throughout government, from the National Security Council to the F.B.I. and the Justice Department.
Some of the signers helped Mr. Biden get elected in 2020 as they were concerned that the support of Israel for its war in Gaza would clash with the stance of Democratic voters.
U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations: Call for a cease-fire after Hamas’s Oct. 7 attack on Israel
“Much more aid is urgently needed. Ms. Thomas-Greenfield stated that the current levels are insufficient. humanitarian pauses may enable the United Nations to deliver aid and allow people fleeing violence to pass through.
Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the U.S. ambassador to the U.N., said that the passing of the resolution on Wednesday showed that the Council could still work together. She said the United States could not vote for a resolution that did not condemn Hamas’s Oct. 7 attack on Israel and state that countries have the right to defend themselves. She said the United States supported many provisions of the resolution, including the release of hostages and humanitarian pauses.
Before Wednesday’s vote, Russia asked for an amendment to the resolution that would demand a cease-fire. The majority of the Security Council member states supported the resolution for an immediate cease-fire. The proposal didn’t get the required nine votes and wasn’t adopted. The United States was the only one to vote against a cease-fire.
Four previous resolutions have failed. Malta’s resolution was intended to be a compromise to achieve consensus on language and humanitarian issues with emphasis on the plight of children, according to diplomats.
The resolution is binding and calls on all parties in conflict to respect international law which calls for the protection of children. The release of hostages from Hamas was also called for.
The United Nations Security Council adopted a resolution on Wednesday calling for immediate and urgent dayslong humanitarian pauses in the Israel-Hamas war to allow desperately needed aid to reach civilians in Gaza.
