The recent conflict between Israel and Hamas has sparked divisive opinions in the United States, with 100 staffers from the State Department and the Agency for International Development voicing their strong dissent. They have accused Joe Biden’s administration of failing to effectively manage the crisis and, more alarmingly, implicated Israel in committing war crimes.

The dispute began when Hamas terrorists breached the Israeli border on October 7, resulting in the tragic loss of 1,200 Israeli lives, most of whom were civilians. The terrorists also kidnapped over 200 individuals, taking them into Gaza. As Israel retaliated against these heinous acts, a group of State Department employees accused the Biden administration of turning a blind eye to alleged war crimes committed by Israel.

An internal memo, known as a ‘dissent cable,’ was organized by a junior diplomat and heavily criticized Biden’s approach to the situation. This memo, penned by Sylvia Yacoub, a foreign affairs officer in the Bureau of Middle East Affairs, accused Biden of complicity in the violence. She claimed that the U.S. government was providing significant military assistance to Israel, which she argued was indiscriminately attacking innocent Gazans.

The memo further alleged that Israel had cut off electricity to Gaza and restricted aid, actions that the authors argued constituted war crimes and crimes against humanity under international law. The document criticized the United States for its unwavering military support of Israel without setting clear or actionable redlines.

The memo also took issue with the White House and the National Security Council’s alleged disregard for Palestinian lives and their refusal to de-escalate the situation. It criticized their lack of strategic foresight and their unwillingness to trust the casualty figures provided by the Hamas-controlled Gaza Health Ministry.

In response to this dissent, Secretary of State Antony Blinken acknowledged the deep emotional impact the crisis was having on many staffers. He expressed his own anguish at the suffering endured by civilians, including babies, children, women, and the elderly. While some believe that Israel is justified in its retaliation against Hamas, others argue that the response has been disproportionate and that innocent Gazans are paying the price.