WASHINGTON: A group of former White House interns has penned an open letter to President Joe Biden, urging his administration to support an immediate ceasefire in the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. The signatories, including interns from 2022 and the summer of 2023, accused President Biden of betraying his promise to pursue equality and justice by endorsing Israel’s bombardment in Gaza.
In the letter, the former interns expressed dissatisfaction with the president’s actions, emphasizing the contrast between the values they embraced during their tenure and the current situation. They pointed out that despite President Biden’s calls for young people to lead through global challenges, their voices are being ignored.
The conflict has brought catastrophic consequences to Gaza, with over 22,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, have been killed, according to the territory’s health ministry. The United Nations has recently warned that half of Gaza’s 2.2 million residents are at risk of starvation.
US Support for Israel’s Gaza Offensive
President Biden’s support for Israel’s military offensive has faced growing dissent within the Democratic party and even within his own administration. Progressives, Arab and Muslim Americans, and young people have expressed discontent, posing a potential challenge in the upcoming presidential election.
The open letter outlined specific steps the former interns urged the President and Vice President to take, including supporting a permanent ceasefire, ending unconditional military aid to Israel, securing the release of hostages, and labeling Israel’s recent actions as war crimes.
Last week, Tariq Habash, a top adviser at the education department and its only Palestinian American political appointee, resigned in protest over the administration’s handling of the war.
Habash’s resignation follows another official who publicly resigned, both citing concerns over the administration’s response to the conflict. While President Biden has increased criticism of Israel in recent weeks, critics argue that the rhetoric has not translated into concrete actions. The US vetoed a UN resolution calling for a ceasefire last month, and calls from Democrats in Congress to condition military aid to Israel have largely been ignored by the White House.
