A human rights officer at the State Department tendered her resignation in protest of the US policy concerning the Gaza Strip. Annelle Sheline, who served as a foreign affairs officer in the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor for a year, voiced her dissent in an article for CNN, citing an inability to continue serving under an administration endorsing what she perceives as atrocities. She chose to resign prematurely from her two-year contract.
Expressing profound concern over the Biden administration’s stance supporting Israel’s actions in Gaza, Sheline highlighted the erosion of the United States’ credibility as a human rights advocate since the onset of the conflict. She revealed that her decision to resign publicly stemmed from her colleagues’ plea for representation.
Sheline criticized the State Department’s affirmation of Israel’s compliance with international law amidst reports of humanitarian crises, labeling such assertions as contradictory to the administration’s professed commitment to justice. She underscored the tragic self-immolation of US Air Force serviceman Aaron Bushnell, who protested against Israel’s actions, as a poignant reminder of the moral dilemmas at hand.
The resignation of Annelle Sheline marks the second high-profile protest resignation from the State Department since October. This includes the departure of Josh Paul, the former director of the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs, who cited concerns over the continued arms provision to Israel. Tariq Habash, a political appointee at the Education Department, also resigned in January, criticizing the administration’s approach to the Gaza conflict and Israel’s punitive measures.
