Senior U.S. State Department Official Resigns Over Biden's Israel-Gaza Approach

The Biden administration has reportedly said in private that it supports an Israeli ground operation in Gaza

Josh Paul, a long-time U.S. State Department official, announced his resignation on Wednesday over the Biden administration’s approach to the Israel-Hamas war that continues to rage while causing one of the world’s biggest humanitarian calamities.

Brian Finucane, a senior adviser at Crisis Group, posted the resignation letter on X.

Paul condemned the Hamas attack and called it a “monstrosity of monstrosities.”

But he said it is his core belief that Israel’s response — with the support of the U.S. — “and for the status quo of the occupation, will only lead to more and deeper suffering for both the Israeli and the Palestinian people - and is not in the long term American interest,” according to Middle East Eye.

Paul had worked for the office that approves arms transfers, said in an interview: “I recognize the Israeli government's right to respond and to defend themselves. I guess I question how many Palestinian children have to die in that process.”

The Washington Post reported that Paul worked in his role for 11 years.

Finucane wrote: “I have deep respect for Josh and I know he did not take this decision lightly.”