Former Biden officials urge 2028 Democratic hopefuls to reject Gaza policy architects

Twelve former Biden administration officials who resigned over US support for Israeli attacks on Gaza called on Democratic candidates in the 2028 US presidential race on October 28 to denounce that policy and pledge not to hire officials they say enabled Israel’s military actions. Their joint statement puts a demand about future staffing and accountability before prospective nominees as the party approaches its next presidential contest.

What the former officials want from 2028 candidates

The 12 signatories left the administration between late 2023 and mid-2024, Reuters reported. Their statement asks candidates to commit to excluding any administration official directly responsible for enabling Israel’s military actions in Gaza. It also calls on candidates to acknowledge what the signatories describe as US government complicity in genocide in Gaza. Those are the former officials’ accusations and proposed political commitments.

Why the signatories resigned over Gaza

The National quoted the former officials as saying that US officials owe a solemn duty to the Constitution and the public. They accused senior architects of the Biden administration’s Gaza policy of whitewashing their roles and pursuing what the signatories called unlawful ends. Their appeal seeks a public break from that policy by people who hope to lead the Democratic Party in 2028.

One signatory, former State Department employee Annelle Sheline, resigned in April 2024. She told The National after her resignation that US support for Israel had made it difficult for her to promote human rights in the Middle East. She said she could no longer do the job she had been hired to do and did not want to remain associated with the government.

The demand comes from former officials whose departures were a protest against US policy during the Gaza war. Reuters reported that the Biden administration’s approach had also drawn protests from some progressive lawmakers and activists. Israel has described its military actions as self-defense following the Hamas-led attack on Israel in October 2023. The former officials’ allegations about US responsibility remain attributed to them; the statement asks candidates to take a position on those allegations and on whom they would hire.