After 18 years of service, veteran US diplomat Hala Rharrit made the difficult decision to leave the State Department due to the US government’s “immoral and inhumane” policy towards Gaza. As a political officer and spokesperson, Rharrit found it increasingly challenging to promote US interests while witnessing the devastating effects of Israel’s war on Gaza.
Rharrit, speaking to host Steve Clemons, expressed her concerns that US talking points were dehumanising Palestinians and blindly following Israeli narratives. She believes that this approach is not only destabilising the region but also failing to make Israel any safer.
Ultimately, Rharrit’s decision to leave the Biden administration was motivated by a deep-seated conviction that the current US policy towards Gaza was fundamentally flawed and damaging. Her departure serves as a powerful reminder of the ethical dilemmas faced by diplomats in the pursuit of national interests.