'American support will only serve to prolong suffering for both Israeli and Palestinian' - Resigned US state department official

SHAH ALAM - A State Department official involved in arms transfers to foreign powers has resigned due to disagreements with the Biden administration's stance on the ongoing Israeli colonisation of Palestine, media reports.

Josh Paul, who served as the Congressional and Public Affairs Director at the State Department’s Bureau of Political-Military Affairs, said that the administration's response to the situation was impulsive and based on intellectual bankruptcy.

He cited his inability to support continued US military assistance to Israel as the reason for his resignation.

"I am leaving today because I believe that, in our current course of continued and expanded provision of lethal arms to Israel, I have reached the end of that bargain," he added.

Paul, who has handled arms transfers for more than 11 years, stressed that his departure reflects a rare instance of internal disagreement over the administration's strong support for Israel, the United States' closest ally in the Middle East.

On Wednesday, according to a New York Times report, President Joe Biden is set to request $10 billion in primarily military assistance for Israel from Congress.

"I think for us to look at the current situation and say the answer is as many bombs as Israel asks for, knowing that their use will lead in a direction exactly opposite to our stated policy goals, it's disappointing, to say the least," Paul said.

This includes attacks on civilian populations as well as other severe violations of international humanitarian law and human rights legislation, such as the abuse of minors.

Paul's public resignation represents an unusual display of dissent within President Biden's foreign policy apparatus, which generally aims to keep such expressions of disagreement private.

In his LinkedIn post, Paul expressed that he resigned due to a "policy disagreement concerning our continued lethal assistance to Israel."

"However, I firmly believe that the course of action Israel is taking, along with American support for it and the status quo of the occupation itself, will only serve to prolong suffering for both the Israeli and Palestinian people and is not in the country's long-term best interests."

Paul added that he cannot support policy decisions that he views as "shortsighted, destructive, unjust, and contradictory to the very values that we publicly espouse," including the provision of weapons.

In his resignation letter, Paul expressed his concern for the safety of both Israeli and Palestinian people, The Washington Post reports.

His words were intended to resonate with colleagues who may share similar sentiments.

"And I hope they see that and that it speaks to them to do the right thing as well, which I know so many of them will," he said.

Netizens on The Washington Post's Instagram platform also commended his decision:

@rozarae_sa: "Joe Biden and all those supporting genocide are clearly morally and intellectually bankrupt! Good on him."

@sjzaboli: "What courage. Thank you!!!!"

@financierpro1: "A man with honor and ethics."

Numerous Washington Post readers congratulated him on his principled stand, impressed by his willingness to speak out against perceived injustice and do what he believes is right.

Gaza health officials say Israeli bombs have killed 3,785 people so far, and wounded more than 12,000. The area has been bombarded by Israeli airstrikes since Hamas fighters attacked Israel on 7 October, killing more than 1,400 Israelis and taking at least 199 people hostage.

On Thursday, the international charity Action Against Hunger said the lack of access to water in Gaza was “a health crisis on the brink of explosion”.

The United Nations estimates there are fewer than three litres of water per person each day for the 2.3 million people living in Gaza, half of whom are children.