Hundreds of federal workers protest Biden’s approach to Israel-Hamas conflict

More than 400 political appointees and staff members from dozens of federal agencies are urging President Biden to call for an immediate cease-fire in the Gaza Strip, a remarkable show of internal dissent over the White House’s approach to the conflict.

The protest is outlined in a formal letter to Mr. Biden and begins by denouncing the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas militants that killed more than 1,400 in Israel, then urges the president to stop the Palestinian civilian deaths caused by the Israeli military’s operations in Gaza, according to a review of the letter by The New York Times.

“We call on President Biden to urgently demand a cease-fire; and to call for de-escalation of the current conflict by securing the immediate release of the Israeli hostages and arbitrarily detained Palestinians; the restoration of water, fuel, electricity and other basic services; and the passage of adequate humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip,” the letter says.