Hala Rharrit, a career US diplomat, unexpectedly resigned from her position due to the US government’s policy on the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. She had dedicated her entire adult life to working at the State Department, taking on challenging assignments in countries like Yemen, Hong Kong, Qatar, and South Africa. Despite her intentions to advance to senior levels within the department, she felt compelled to leave after feeling that her warnings about destabilizing policy were being ignored.
Rharrit was one of three State Department officials to resign over the administration’s stance on the war, which has resulted in over 34,000 deaths in Gaza. She was particularly horrified by the Hamas terrorist attacks that initiated the conflict and was dismayed by the growing humanitarian crisis and loss of innocent lives. She felt that the US was on the wrong side of history by strongly supporting Israel in the conflict and failing to address the humanitarian crisis and deaths of journalists in Gaza.
As a spokesperson for the State Department, Rharrit found it challenging to present US policy on the war to an Arabic-speaking audience, as the talking points provided were out of touch with the reality on the ground. She warned that the messaging would be seen as dehumanizing to Palestinians and would harm US relations in the region. Despite sharing her feedback with the department, she felt silenced and sidelined by colleagues who were uncomfortable discussing critical issues related to Gaza.
Rharrit’s decision to resign sparked conversations among other diplomats who shared her concerns about the US policy on the war. Many colleagues reached out to express similar feelings but felt unable to speak out due to fear of repercussions on their careers. While the State Department emphasized the existence of channels for dissenting viewpoints, Rharrit’s case highlighted the challenges faced by diplomats in expressing their disagreements with government policy.
Despite growing backlash over the civilian toll of the war, the US continued to supply weapons to Israel, causing further internal divisions within the State Department. Some officials were hesitant to challenge the policy due to concerns about their careers, leading to a reluctance to provide critical feedback or admit complicity in civilian deaths. Rharrit’s resignation shed light on the complexities faced by diplomats grappling with the ethical implications of US foreign policy decisions.
