In a significant blow to the Biden administration, at least a dozen officials have recently resigned due to the United States' support for Israel's war on Gaza. Maryam Hassanein, an appointee of the Biden administration at the US Department of Interior, joined this growing group last month. Hassanein, inspired by the resilience of students involved in the anti-war movement at George Washington University, decided to use her voice to advocate for change.

Expressing her concern over the $1 billion arms shipment authorized by the US to Israel in the midst of the conflict, Hassanein felt compelled to take action. "Seeing the strength of the students who led that movement across the country really made me think about what I should be doing and how I can advocate far more for an end to the carnage in Palestine," she stated.

During a Zoom call hosted by the civil rights group Council on American-Islamic Relations (Cair), both Hassanein and Hala Rharrit, a former US State Department diplomat who resigned in April, shared their experiences of witnessing Islamophobia and anti-Palestinian bias within the Biden administration's Middle East policies.

Rharrit, who had served with the State Department for almost two decades, explained that she experienced a shift in the department's atmosphere ten months ago. Previously, robust debates were encouraged, but now she felt fear of retaliation, silencing, and self-censorship. She emphasized that this was the first time she had encountered such an environment during her tenure.

Rharrit further highlighted instances where she was directed to repeat a narrative that supported Israel's right to defend itself and faced backlash when attempting to shed light on the plight of Palestinian children. She also mentioned a colleague expressing disbelief about the construction of the Egyptian pyramids during a diplomatic discussion.

Both Hassanein and Rharrit voiced their discontent with the US's aid to Israel, labeling it a failed policy that required intervention from American taxpayers. Hassanein revealed that despite signing letters, attending rallies, and vigils, she realized her voice was not being effectively heard while working at the Department of Interior. She stressed the importance of her perspective and background in representing Muslim communities across the country.

Since her public resignation, Hassanein has not received a response from her former employer. The Department of Interior and the State Department have not commented on the matter yet.

Concerns were also raised regarding the Democratic national convention's denial of a speaking slot for Georgia state representative Ruwa Romman, further highlighting the dissatisfaction among some within the party with regard to Middle East policies.

Hassanein expressed her uncertainty about voting for Vice President Kamala Harris in November, indicating that she wanted to witness a significant shift in US's Gaza policy before making a decision. Cair is calling on attendees to demand that the State Department and the White House adhere to US law by ending the transfer of weapons to Israel.

The resignation of officials within the Biden administration reflects the growing criticism and pressure faced by the administration over its support for Israel's Gaza war. As the conflict continues, activists and former officials hope for a moment of realization and healing, emphasizing the need for humanity, dignity, and respect for all, regardless of background.