U.S. officials who resigned over Gaza policy say Biden’s arms threat to Israel is “better than nothing” but too late

Former Biden administration officials who resigned over the U.S. approach to Israel’s offensive in Gaza have expressed mixed reactions to President Joe Biden’s threat to suspend arms shipments to Israel. While some see it as a “step in the right direction,” others remain skeptical about the impact it will have on the ongoing conflict.

Josh Paul, a former State Department official, welcomed Biden’s decision to pause a weapons shipment but expressed regret that it came too late for the thousands of lives lost in Gaza. He called for a new policy that re-evaluates the U.S.’s security assistance to Israel.

Hala Rharrit, a U.S. diplomat who resigned in protest over the administration’s policy on Israel, cautiously welcomed Biden’s comments but raised concerns about the shifting red lines and the definition of a full-scale assault.

Annelle Sheline, who resigned from the State Department’s Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, was less optimistic, questioning whether a real policy shift would occur given Israel’s past violations.

The Biden administration’s decision to halt arms shipments to Israel has sparked debate among former officials, with some calling for a broader conversation on U.S. security assistance to Israel. As the conflict in Gaza continues, pressure mounts for a diplomatic solution to end the violence and secure the release of hostages held by Hamas.

Overall, the reactions from former officials reflect a mix of hope, skepticism, and urgency for a meaningful change in U.S. policy towards Israel and the ongoing conflict in Gaza.