US State Department Arabic spokesperson resigns in opposition to Gaza policy

The Arabic-language spokesperson of the US State Department has resigned, citing her opposition to Washington's policy related to the Gaza war, in at least the third resignation from the department over the issue.

Hala Rharrit was also the Dubai Regional Media Hub's deputy director and joined the State Department almost two decades ago as a political and human rights officer, the department's website showed.

"I resigned April 2024 after 18 years of distinguished service in opposition to the United States' Gaza policy," she wrote on social media platform LinkedIn.

A State Department spokesperson, asked about the resignation in Thursday's press briefing, said the department has channels for its workforce to share views when it disagrees with government policies.

Nearly a month earlier, Annelle Sheline of the State Department's human rights bureau announced her resignation, and State Department official Josh Paul resigned in October.

A senior official in the US Education Department, Tariq Habash, who is Palestinian-American, had stepped down in January.

The United States has come under mounting criticism internationally and from human rights groups over its support for Israel amid Israel's ongoing war on Gaza that has killed more than 34,000 people and caused a humanitarian crisis.

There have been reports of signs of dissent in the administration of President Joe Biden as the death toll continues to grow in the war.

In November, more than 1,000 officials in the US Agency for International Development (USAID), part of the State Department, signed an open letter calling for an immediate ceasefire.

Cables criticising the administration's policy have also been filed with the State Department's internal "dissent channel".

The war has also led to anti-war demonstrations across the United States, Israel's most important ally.

Israel's war on Gaza has led to widespread displacement, hunger, and genocide allegations that Israel denies.

A Hamas-led attack on Israel on 7 October killed 1,200 people, according to Israeli tallies.

(Reuters)