Major Harrison Mann, a former US military intelligence official, resigned from the Department of Defence in protest over America’s support for Israel. He said that the support “enabled and empowered” the killing of civilians in the ongoing war in Gaza.
In a letter released on Monday (May 13), he explained to his colleagues at the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) that his November resignation was because of the “nearly unqualified support” and “moral injury” stemming from US support for Israel’s war.
This makes Mann, an Army major, the first known DIA official to quit over the Biden administration’s support to Israel. But he kept quiet about his motives for resigning for months because he was “afraid”.
In February, a US airman fatally set himself on fire outside the Israeli embassy in Washington.
In a letter shared with colleagues last month, Mann wrote, “I was afraid. Afraid of violating our professional norms. Afraid of disappointing officers I respect. Afraid you would feel betrayed. I’m sure some of you will feel that way reading this.”
The letter was published on his LinkedIn profile on Monday.
“The policy that has never been far from my mind for the past six months is the nearly unqualified support for the government of Israel, which has enabled and empowered the killing and starvation of tens of thousands of innocent Palestinians,” Mann wrote in the post.
“This unconditional support also encourages reckless escalation that risks wider war,” he added.
Notably, Mann served as a US Army officer for 13 years. He was posted as a security cooperation officer at the US embassy in Tunis.
He said that he felt shame and guilt for helping advance US policy that he said contributed to the mass killing of Palestinians.
“At some point — whatever the justification — you’re either advancing a policy that enables the mass starvation of children, or you’re not,” Mann wrote.
Watch: Gravitas: Will America’s warning deter Netanyahu?
‘Genocide’ not happening in Gaza: White House
Meanwhile, the US does not believe that genocide is occurring in Gaza but Israel must do more to protect Palestinian civilians, President Joe Biden’s top national security official said Monday.
“We believe Israel can and must do more to ensure the protection and wellbeing of innocent civilians. We do not believe what is happening in Gaza is a genocide,” White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan told a briefing.
Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing developments on the Israel-Palestine conflict after the Hamas attacks. However, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.
(With inputs from agencies)