A Defense Intelligence Agency Army officer has resigned in protest of the U.S.’s ongoing military support for Israel. Maj. Harrison Mann cited the U.S.’s strong support for Israel as the reason for his resignation, expressing his belief that it has contributed to the suffering of innocent Palestinians in Gaza. He posted a modified version of his resignation letter on LinkedIn, expressing shame and guilt over the connection between his duties and the distressing images from Gaza.
Mann, who has European Jewish ancestry, also mentioned feeling haunted by his perceived failure to uphold moral standards regarding responsibility for ethnic cleansing. His resignation follows a trend of government officials resigning in protest of U.S. support for Israel, including State Department official Josh Paul and spokesperson Hala Rharrit.
While active-duty defense officials have not publicly resigned over U.S. policy towards the conflict, there have been extreme actions taken in protest. In February, Air Force serviceman Aaron Bushnell self-immolated outside the Israeli Embassy in Washington, shouting “Free Palestine” before succumbing to his injuries.
The U.S. has historically supported Israel in its military actions against Hamas, providing billions of dollars in aid. President Biden’s administration recently paused a military aid package containing large bombs amid concerns about their potential use in Rafah. Israeli forces have conducted limited operations in Rafah, a Hamas stronghold, prompting a significant number of residents to flee.
The conflict in Gaza has resulted in a high number of casualties, with differing reports on the number of Palestinian deaths. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that Israeli forces have killed thousands of terrorists and civilians. The situation remains tense, with continued fighting and displacement in the region.
