Twelve Ex-Officials Demand 2028 Democrats Ban Gaza Policy Architects

Twelve former officials from the Biden administration issued a joint statement on Wednesday demanding that Democratic candidates for the 2028 presidency formally reject the Gaza policy pursued during the previous term. The group, known as the “Gaza Resignees,” quit their positions between late 2023 and 2024 in protest of what they described as the US government’s illegal and unconditional support for Israel’s military actions in Gaza.

The statement argues that basic accountability requires preventing individuals who caused significant harm from returning to power. It specifically calls on 2028 nominees to commit to not hiring any administration official directly responsible for enabling Israel’s military operations in the territory. The authors contend that several architects of the policy are currently working to reenter policymaking while attempting to downplay their roles.

The signatories accused these figures of staying silent when they should have defended US law and instead pursued wrongful ends in violation of both US and international statutes. They stated that many of these officials are now actively seeking a path back into government roles.

The statement outlines three specific oaths that Democratic candidates should pledge to uphold. First, nominees must commit to upholding the Constitution and pursuing the national interest of the United States. Second, they must acknowledge the US role in Israel’s genocide in Gaza through the provision of arms, funding, and diplomatic backing. Third, candidates must build an administration that creates no space for any architect, leader, defender, or key enabler of policies that constitute complicity in that genocide.

The call comes as the Biden administration, which served from 2021 to 2024, faces continued criticism from progressive lawmakers and activist groups. US Representative Rashida Tlaib and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani have both opposed the ongoing US support for Israel, a stance that has persisted since President Donald Trump’s reelection last year. Several rights groups, scholars, and United Nations inquiries have assessed Israel’s war on Gaza as a genocide.

Palestinian health authorities report that the conflict since October 2023 has killed at least 74,564 Palestinians and injured at least 175,770 others. The former officials say their resignation was a direct response to the scale of this loss and the specific nature of US involvement.

The statement was published on Wednesday. The 2028 presidential election cycle is currently in its pre-nomination phase, with various potential candidates beginning to define their policy positions on foreign affairs.