Newly revealed emails have shed light on senior military officials expressing concerns to the White House shortly after Israel initiated its operation in Gaza. The emails, obtained and reviewed by Reuters, exchanged between senior State Department and Pentagon officials from Oct. 11-14, highlighted apprehension and urgency as Israel commenced missile strikes on the Gaza Strip.
The correspondence specifically addressed the mass evacuation of Palestinians as a potential legal issue. Dana Stroul, the former deputy assistant secretary of defense for the Middle East, cautioned senior Biden aides on Oct. 13 about the possibility of Israel facing war crime charges for its actions. The emails also emphasized the need to convey sympathy for the Palestinian people and facilitate increased aid into Gaza while maintaining solidarity with Israel.
Israel's incursion into Gaza has sparked division and distress within the Democratic Party. The progressive faction and younger voters are holding the Biden administration accountable for its support of Israel amid the escalating casualties among Palestinians.
The invasion has also impeded the efforts of aid organizations to assist the displaced residents of Gaza who fled their homes to evade involvement in Israel's military operations.
Stroul went as far as alleging that Israel was on the brink of committing war crimes following the IDF's distribution of leaflets over northern Gaza urging residents to evacuate before the military advanced into the territory through targeted incursions. Concerns were raised about the feasibility of evacuating one million civilians swiftly without causing a humanitarian crisis.
Three senior U.S. officials criticized the White House for its delayed response to these issues, with Biden's team initially asserting that the U.S. was leading international initiatives to provide humanitarian aid to Gaza, emphasizing it as a top priority.
Bill Russo, a former assistant secretary of state, underscored the long-term repercussions of the U.S.'s inadequate response to the humanitarian situation in Gaza, deeming it ineffective, counterproductive, and detrimental to relations with Arab nations.
Russo's concerns were echoed by a colleague who forwarded his emails to White House officials, cautioning that failure to address the situation promptly could lead to wavering support from Arab allies.
Far-left voters have made the plight of Gaza a central issue in the lead-up to the upcoming election, with Michigan voters staging an 'uncommitted' protest vote during the Democratic primary to express dissatisfaction with the Biden administration's handling of the crisis.
These same voters criticized Vice President Harris for her DNC speech in August, labeling it as 'horrible' and accusing her of downplaying U.S. involvement in the Gaza invasion by providing funding and weapons to Israel.
