Hundreds of US Officials Urge Biden to Demand Ceasefire in Gaza

Hundreds of United States officials have reportedly signed internal memos submitted through the State Department’s “dissent channel” protesting the Biden Administration's handling of the ongoing conflict in Gaza between Israel and Hamas.

Details: First established during the Vietnam War, the dissent channel allows officials to raise concerns and voice disapproval with federal policies. More than 400 employees from dozens of federal agencies have reportedly signed a memo calling for Biden to demand a ceasefire.

Key Quotes: One memo reportedly stated, “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.” On Monday, Secretary of State Antony Blinken addressed the concerns in an email, stating, “I know that for many of you, the suffering caused by this crisis is taking a profound personal toll,” adding, “some people in the department may disagree with approaches we are taking or have views on what we can do better … We’re listening: What you share is informing our policy and our messages.”

How the Media Covered It: Reuters (Center bias) cited “several U.S. officials” to determine the dissent is “unlikely to profoundly change Biden's policy.” The Washington Times (Lean Right bias) also noted a separate letter from U.S. officials praising Biden’s response to the conflict.