“I Feel Ashamed”… First Resignation in the U.S. Army Due to Gaza War
A new American official joins the ranks of those resigning from their positions due to their country’s support for Israel in its war on Gaza.
Harrison Mann, a former official in U.S. military intelligence, published a letter yesterday, Monday, to his colleagues, stating that his resignation in November was actually due to “moral injury” caused by American support for Israel’s war in the territory and the harm inflicted on Palestinians.
Harrison Mann, an army officer with the rank of Major, becomes the first known official from U.S. military intelligence to resign due to American support for Israel.
An airman of the U.S. Air Force immolated himself in front of the Israeli embassy in Washington in February, and other army members expressed their protest.
Mann said fear prevented him for several months from revealing the reasons for his resignation, adding, “I was afraid. I was afraid of violating our professional standards. I was afraid of certain officials whom I respected. I was afraid of you feeling betrayed. I’m sure some of you will feel this way reading this.”
Mann’s case differs from that of other American government officials, some at the State Department, who expressed regret for U.S. policy when they resigned but did not wait months before giving the reasons for their departure.
Mann said he felt ashamed and guilty for contributing to the enforcement of U.S. policy.
U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said the United States does not consider Israel to be committing “genocide” in Gaza, but calls on Tel Aviv to “do more to protect Palestinian civilians.”
Sullivan‘s statements come despite the United Nations confirming that over 53,000 people have been killed in Gaza since October 7th.
