Political appointees and Biden administration staffers are expected to hold a vigil in front of the White House on Wednesday to call on President Joe Biden to support a permanent ceasefire in Gaza.
The vigil is expected to be held in the early evening and several political appointees, administration staffers and civil service career staff are expected to attend. Among those that are expected to attend include Josh Paul, a former State Department official who resigned from his job in October over disagreement with the Biden administration’s approach to the Israel-Hamas war.
The group behind organizing the vigil called the violence that has unfolded in Gaza over the last few weeks “unacceptable.”
“The temporary ceasefire ended 13 days ago, and we have been horrified to see the full resumption of killings, displacement and bombardment of Palestinian civilians in Gaza. A temporary pause to this violence was never enough. We must move with urgency to save as many lives as possible and achieve an immediate, permanent ceasefire agreement and the return of all hostages,” according to prepared remarks Paul is expected to make at the vigil on behalf of the group.
He is also expected to say: “The American people and respected institutions like the United Nations are pleading for a ceasefire, but this administration has yet to listen. We demand President Biden and members of the Cabinet to speak up: Call for a permanent ceasefire, a release of all hostages and an immediate de-escalation now.”
This vigil comes at a time when there has been growing internal frustration among staffers within the Biden administration on how the president has responded following Hamas’ October 7 attack.
Last month, more than 700 staffers and political appointees signed a letter calling on the president to support a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict. The…
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