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Occupation Crimes
Hundreds of USAID Officials Urge Ceasefire
A lot of people who work for USAID, which is a part of the US government, have signed a letter asking President Joe Biden to stop the fighting in Gaza. They want an immediate ceasefire and for the violence to end. This letter was obtained by Foreign Policy magazine.
Concerns about US Support for Israel
More than 9,000 people have been killed in Gaza because of airstrikes by Israel, according to the Ministry of Health there. This has made some people in the US government worried about how President Biden is supporting Israel in this war. They think he should do more to stop the violence.
Disagreement within the US Government
Foreign Policy magazine says that this letter shows that there is a disagreement between President Biden's government and regular American officials. These officials don't agree with how the White House is handling the war in Gaza.
Will the Letter Make a Difference?
The magazine also says that the letter doesn't talk about the attacks by Hamas, a group in Gaza that wants to destroy Israel. It also doesn't mention that Hamas targets innocent people. Some people wonder if this letter will change President Biden's support for Israel.
Call for Adherence to International Law
The letter also asks the United States to join other countries in making sure that everyone, including Israel, follows international law. This means ending the illegal Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories and the settlements there.
Growing Support for the Letter
As of Friday morning, about 370 officials from USAID had signed the letter. The number of signatures went up from about 200 on Thursday evening. The people who signed the letter want to stay anonymous because they are worried about losing their jobs or their safety.
Opposition and Support
Three sources from USAID confirmed that the letter exists and that a lot of people support it. However, some people, like Dave Harden, who used to work for USAID, don't think the letter will make a big difference. On the other hand, Samantha Power, the director of USAID, has been talking about the suffering of people in Gaza and saying that Israel needs to follow the rules of war.
Concerns in the State Department
Foreign Policy magazine says that this letter is just one example of many people in the State Department who are worried about the US supporting Israel too much. They think this is making the situation in Gaza even worse.
Source: Foreign Policy
