Share this @internewscast.com

WASHINGTON — A senior Biden education official announced his resignation Wednesday, citing the administration’s failure to protect Palestinian civilians in Gaza from Israel’s offensive in its deadly war with Hamas.

In a letter Wednesday to Education Secretary Miguel Cardona, Tariq Habash, special assistant in the department’s Office of Planning, Evaluation, and Policy Development, wrote, “I cannot stay silent as this administration turns a blind eye to the atrocities committed against innocent Palestinian lives, in what leading human rights experts have called a genocidal campaign by the Israeli government.”

Habash, a Palestinian-American, is a political appointee and a student loan and college affordability specialist.

His resignation is the latest sign of unease within the ranks of the Biden administration over the president’s handling of a war that broke out Oct. 7 when Hamas militants launched a surprise attack on the Jewish state. In November, more than 400 Biden administration officials wrote an open letter calling on Biden to insist on a cease fire. The letter did not give their names.

Israel’s counter-attack has resulted in more than 21,000 deaths in Gaza, according to Palestinian health authorities, prompting senior Biden administration officials to press Israel for a more targeted approach to the conflict that spares more civilian lives.

But critics argue that the White House is not using its leverage as Israel’s main military benefactor to bring about a change in tactics. They’ve prevailed on the White House to attach conditions to the military aid flowing to Israel rather than simply beseech Israeli leaders to show more restraint.

Habash’s two-page letter suggests that whatever Biden has done to rein in Israel has failed to prevent an unfolding humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza.

“I cannot be quietly complicit as the administration fails to leverage its influence as Israel’s strongest ally to halt the abusive and collective punishment tactics that have cut off Palestinians in Gaza from food, water, electricity, fuel and medical supplies, leading to widespread disease and starvation,” he wrote.

He went on to suggest a callousness on Biden’s part in reacting to the death toll in Gaza. At a news conference in October, Biden dismissed casualty reports coming out of Gaza, saying he had no assurance that “the Palestinians are telling the truth about how many people are killed.”

“I’m sure innocents have been killed, and it’s the price of waging a war,” Biden added.

In his letter, Habash wrote that “the president has publicly questioned the integrity of Palestinian death counts frequently used by our own State Department, the United Nations, and numerous humanitarian non-governmental organizations.”

Mindful of growing dissent within the administration, White House officials have made efforts to meet with Arab-American, Palestinian-American, and Muslim-American staff members to hear their concerns about the war. They’ve also convened quiet meetings with various Arab and Palestinian community leaders who are upset about the war’s direction.

But the blowback persists, straining Biden’s political coalition as he barrels toward a potential rematch with Donald Trump in November. Democratic lawmakers have warned Biden that he could lose Michigan, a crucial swing state with a large Arab population unless he recalibrates his approach to the war and shows more empathy for Palestinian lives.

Habash’s path from enthusiastic campaign supporter to disillusioned official exemplifies the problem Biden faces.

He wrote that he “actively” campaigned for Biden in the 2020 election and helped shape the president’s platform on education issues. When Biden took office, Habash added that he was one of the first political appointees to arrive in the education building.

In a press statement two weeks after Biden’s swearing-in, the Education Department described Habash and other political appointees as a “diverse and accomplished” group.

What began on that hopeful note ended with Habash’s letter criticizing the Biden administration for putting “millions of innocent lives in danger.”

“Therefore, I must resign.”

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like

rewrite this title ‘My heart goes out to him’: North Side neighbor shares concern for man mistakenly shot at 9 times

SAN ANTONIO – A drive-by shooting Friday morning came as a complete…

1 killed, 1 critically hurt in car crash into The Peninsula Chicago Hotel on East Superior Street on Near North Side: police

ByABC7 Chicago Digital Team Saturday, April 19, 2025 11:50AM A car crash…

Vontae Davis’ assistant recalls horrific scene when the NFL star was found dead at 35: ‘Blood everywhere’

By JACK BEZANTS Published: 09:08 EDT, 19 April 2025 | Updated: 09:49…

Florida lawyer who called himself the ‘most trusted attorney in town’ had a shocking $30,000 sex secret

He called himself the ‘most trusted attorney in town’. But behind the…

US Supreme Court deportation ruling: SCOTUS blocks, for now, new deportations by Donald Trump admin. under Alien Enemies Act

WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court on Saturday blocked, for now, the deportations…

The real life ‘Below Deck’ – shocking demands of rich ‘yachties’ and sentence that got a crew member fired

In order to sail the seven seas with the ultra-wealthy, crew members…

Payroll data shows bonuses for Chicago City Council aides on the rise

CHICAGO (WLS) — A review by Illinois Answers Project of publicly-available payroll…

At least 148 people die after boat catches fire in Congo, media reports say

At least 148 people were found dead in Democratic Republic of Congo…

Putin announces an Easter truce amid conflict in Ukraine

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a temporary Easter ceasefire in Ukraine, citing…

Essex Files: 30 Years Later the Scars Remain From the Oklahoma City Bombing

On April 19, 1995, 30 years ago today, the Alfred P.…

Oklahoma City to mark 30 years since the bombing that killed 168 people and shook America

OKLAHOMA CITY — A bomb with a force powerful enough to instantly…

Ahead, Troll Factor Eight! Rep Mike Collins 'Corrects' Chris Van Hollen's Office Plaque

Senator Chris Van Hollen has been taking a fair amount of…