Twelve former Biden aides urge 2028 Democrats to bar Gaza policy architects

Twelve former officials from the Biden administration issued a joint statement on Wednesday demanding that Democratic candidates for the 2028 presidential nomination reject the party’s previous approach to the Gaza conflict. The group, identifying themselves as the “Gaza Resignees,” quit their government posts between late 2023 and 2024. They cited the administration’s “illegal and unconditional support for Israel’s actions in Gaza” as the primary reason for their departures.

The statement asks candidates to commit to a specific hiring rule. It instructs nominees to avoid selecting any administration official who was directly responsible for enabling Israel’s military operations in the region. The resignees argue that this measure represents a basic level of accountability. They assert that officials who caused substantial harm within the highest levels of government should not return to their positions.

The authors of the statement noted that several “architects” of the previous policy are now working to clarify their roles. They accused these former colleagues of “whitewashing” their involvement in what they describe as the enabling of genocide. The group stated that these officials remained silent when given the chance to defend US law. Instead, they worked in pursuit of what the resignees called illegal and wrongful ends, violating both US and international law.

The statement calls on 2028 Democratic nominees to pledge to three specific oaths. First, candidates must agree to uphold the Constitution and pursue the national interest of the United States. Second, they must acknowledge US complicity in the conflict through the provision of arms, funding, and diplomatic backing. Third, nominees must promise to build a cabinet that reflects US interests. This cabinet must leave “no space” for anyone who served as an architect, leader, defender, or key enabler of the previous unconditional support policy.

The political pressure on the Biden administration began as the war in Gaza intensified. Progressive lawmakers and activist groups have raised objections to the US stance since the conflict started in October 2023. Current officials have also voiced dissent. US Representative Rashida Tlaib and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani have opposed the continued US support for Israel. This backing has persisted since President Donald Trump was re-elected last year.

Palestinian health authorities report that the war has killed at least 74,564 Palestinians. They say at least 175,770 others have been injured. Various rights groups, experts, scholars, and United Nations inquiries have assessed that the military campaign amounts to genocide. The resignees base their call for accountability on these figures and the legal assessments provided by these independent bodies.