Protest by Western Officials against Israel's Gaza Policy

Over 800 government officials in the US and Europe have collectively expressed concern that their governments' policies regarding the Israel-Gaza war may amount to "grave violations of international law." They believe that their expert advice has been disregarded, putting them at risk of being complicit in one of the worst human catastrophes of this century. This dissent within the governments of Israel's key Western allies is a significant development. One US government official, who wishes to remain anonymous, stated that their concerns have been continuously dismissed. They emphasized that they are not failing to prevent something but actively complicit in the grave violations. The statement, signed by civil servants from the US, EU, and 11 European countries, including the UK, France, and Germany, accuses Israel of limitless military operations in Gaza, resulting in civilian deaths and deliberately blocking aid. They highlight the risk that their governments' policies may contribute to war crimes, ethnic cleansing, or even genocide. The identities of those who signed the statement remain confidential. Retired US ambassador Robert Ford compared this dissent to the concerns over faulty intelligence before the invasion of Iraq, stating that the gravity of the Gaza war has compelled officials to speak out. The officials argue that unconditional support for Israel without accountability jeopardizes Palestinian lives, hostages held by Hamas, and Israel's security and regional stability. They believe that Israel's military operations have not effectively defeated Hamas but, instead, strengthened negative actors such as Hamas and Hezbollah. The officials claim that they have expressed their concerns internally but have been overruled due to political and ideological considerations. The US State Department, the European Union Commission, and the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office have been approached for comment. The statement calls for the US and European governments to stop asserting a strategic rationale behind the Israeli operation. In response to the statement, the Israeli embassy in London stated that it abides by international law and that Israel acts against a genocidal terrorist organization committing war crimes and crimes against humanity. The Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, asserts that full military pressure on Hamas is necessary for the release of hostages. Israel denies deliberately targeting civilians and accuses Hamas of using civilian infrastructure as cover. According to health officials in the Gaza Strip, over 26,750 Palestinians have been killed and 65,000 injured since the war began. Israeli officials claim that 9,000 of those killed were Hamas militants but have yet to provide evidence. The US administration acknowledges the high Palestinian death toll in Gaza and supports Israel's right to prevent attacks like October 7th. However, the US has recently taken a tougher stance on Israeli policy, including addressing settler violence and imposing sanctions on settlers attacking Palestinians. The US Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken, has encouraged officials to express reservations over US policy, assuring them that their input informs policy decisions. The dissenting officials in the statement work in EU institutions, the Netherlands, and various US government departments. The UK Foreign Office has also experienced dissent among staff, particularly regarding the civilian death toll in Gaza. Dissenting officials in the Foreign Office feel there is currently no formal mechanism to register their concerns over the Israel-Hamas war.