Biden administration employees said their voices were ‘not being heard’ internally regarding US’s support of Israel

When Maryam Hassanein joined the US Department of Interior as a Biden administration appointee in January, she hoped that Israel’s war on Gaza would soon come to an end. But when the US authorized a $1bn arms shipment to Israel in the spring, Hassanein decided to use her voice to affect change. She was inspired by the resilience of students involved in the anti-war movement at nearby George Washington University, where she had attended pro-Palestinian rallies.

“Seeing the strength of the students who led that movement across the country really made me think about what I should be doing,” Hassanein said, “and how I can advocate far more for an end to the carnage in Palestine.”

So last month, Hassanein joined the ranks of at least a dozen officials who have resigned from the Biden administration due to the US’s support of Israel’s war on Gaza, where more than 40,000 Palestinians have been killed since 7 October, according to the Gaza health ministry. Hassanein said she saw “value in making your voice heard on a public level when it’s not being heard while working there”.

  • BlameThePeacockEnglish
    412·
    16 days ago

    Ah great, let’s just turn this into more of a religious war than it actually is by pushing a religion narrative.

    • Keeponstalin@lemmy.world
      8·
      16 days ago

      You automatically assume that because they are Muslim they must be against the genocide on the basis of religion? They are anti-genocide on the basis of Human Rights

      • BlameThePeacockEnglish
        15·
        16 days ago

        No, I automatically assume then when they say “Muslim American” in the headline, the media is trying to bring up their religion as relevant to the situation. Otherwise the would just say “The American officials who resigned” instead.

        • Keeponstalin@lemmy.world
          5·
          16 days ago

          Well, they are Muslim and so are many of their constituents that they represent. It is relevant. But their solidarity with Palestinian people are on the basis of humanity, not on a religious basis.

          Arabs, Muslims, and especially Palestinians have been dehumanized by many Americans since the US’ War on Terror. So I think the distinction of ‘Muslim American’ is important. Not on the basis of religion but on lived experience both abroad and in America.

          In her role at the interior department, Hassanein joined other staffers in signing letters, attending rallies and vigils, but soon recognized that her voice wasn’t being heard, she said. “What I realized is that I don’t want to just be a Muslim in a public service position for the sake of being a Muslim in a public service position,” she added. “I want my perspective and my background and the fact that I’m a representation for Muslim communities in the country to truly be considered.” She also disapproved of the Democratic national convention’s denial of a speaking slot for the Georgia state representative Ruwa Romman.