In a leaked memo obtained by POLITICO, U.S. diplomats have criticized the Biden administration's approach to the Israel-Hamas war, calling for a more balanced public messaging strategy and support for a ceasefire. The memo reflects growing discontent among mid-level and lower-ranked diplomats regarding President Joe Biden's handling of the Middle East crisis.

According to conversations with State Department staffers and other reports, the sentiments expressed in the memo resonate with a significant number of U.S. diplomats, potentially impacting the Biden administration's ability to develop effective policy in the region if internal disagreements intensify.

The memo, marked "sensitive but unclassified," outlines two key requests. Firstly, it calls for U.S. support of a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, emphasizing the unacceptable loss of human lives, particularly among Palestinians, and the doubts it raises about the rules-based international order. Secondly, the memo urges the U.S. to balance its private and public messaging toward Israel, including publicly criticizing Israeli military tactics and treatment of Palestinians to ensure that Israel does not act with impunity.

The discrepancy between America's private and public messaging, as stated in the memo, contributes to the perception that the United States is a biased and dishonest actor, potentially harming U.S. interests worldwide.

While it remains unclear how many individuals signed the memo or if it was submitted to the State Department's Dissent Channel for policy disagreement, the department declined to comment directly on the leaked memo, referring to past statements by spokesperson Matthew Miller. Miller has previously stated that Secretary of State Antony Blinken welcomes diverse opinions and carefully considers them.

Multiple dissent memos related to the Israel-Hamas war are reportedly circulating within the State Department, with efforts to gather signatures. While the contents of these memos may not be classified, leaks of such communications are rare. The State Department's Dissent Channel offers employees a platform to express discontent without fear of reprisal.

The memo obtained by POLITICO was written by two mid-level staffers with prior experience in the Middle East, according to a department employee who reviewed the document anonymously due to its sensitive nature.

The memo acknowledges Israel's "legitimate right and obligation" to seek justice against Hamas, which carried out a deadly attack on October 7, resulting in the deaths of approximately 1,400 Israelis. However, it highlights the deemed unacceptable extent of human lives lost among Palestinians, particularly civilians and children, in the subsequent days since the conflict escalated.

The Biden administration has refrained from demanding a ceasefire, aligning with Israel's objective to dismantle Hamas, which is located in the Gaza Strip. Israel has cited the difficulty of distinguishing military targets from civilian areas due to Hamas embedding its fighters and arsenals within civilian populations.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken has been engaging in listening sessions with dissatisfied staff members over the trajectory of U.S. policy in recent weeks. In a message to the department last month, Blinken emphasized the importance of fostering an environment that encourages and values differing viewpoints.

As concerns surrounding the Biden administration's handling of the Israel-Hamas war continue to mount among U.S. diplomats, the impact on U.S. policy towards the Middle East remains uncertain.