US officials express anger over Biden’s Gaza policy, leading to a deteriorating mood in the State Department worse than during the Iraq War.

The State Department is facing a crisis of morale as former and current staff express growing dissent over President Joe Biden’s policy on Gaza. According to Charles Blaha, a former director at the State Department, the mood among staff is worse than during the Iraq War, with many expressing unhappiness and concern.

The recent killing of seven international aid workers by Israel in Gaza has intensified the internal discord. The airstrikes, which also claimed the life of an American citizen, have sparked outrage globally and put a spotlight on Biden’s unwavering support for Israel despite the high civilian casualties in Gaza.

Despite the internal opposition, there have been only two public resignations linked to the war. Josh Paul, one of the resignees, revealed that there have been at least seven internal dissent memos regarding the Biden administration’s Gaza policy. The dissent channel was created during the Vietnam War to allow State Department staff to express criticism without fear of retribution.

Brian Finucane, a former legal adviser at the State Department, highlighted the disconnect between the department’s analysis and policy recommendations on Gaza and the decisions made by the White House. He emphasized that President Biden has been largely immune to the facts of the conflict, particularly regarding arms transfers to Israel.

The resignations and internal dissent within the State Department reflect a growing unease among staff members who are deeply upset by the department’s handling of the Gaza crisis. As pressure mounts on the Biden administration to reassess its support for Israel, the State Department is facing a reckoning over its role in the ongoing conflict.