The US State Department Arabic language spokeswoman has resigned over her disagreement with Washington's policy on relation to the war in Gaza, reported Reuters, quoted by BTA.
This is at least the third resignation in the US diplomatic department in connection with this issue, the agency notes.
Hala Rharit also served as deputy director of the Dubai Regional Media Center and began working at the State Department nearly two decades ago as a political affairs and human rights associate, according to the institution's website.
"After 18 years of excellent service, I resigned in April 2024 in opposition to US policy in Gaza," she wrote on the LinkedIn social network.
A State Department spokesman said today in response to a journalist's question about Rharit's resignation that there are channels through which department officials can share opinions if they disagree with certain government policies.
In March, Anelle Schelain of the State Department's Bureau of Human Rights announced her resignation, as did longtime Bureau of Military and Political Affairs officer Josh Paul in October.
Tariq Habash, an American of Palestinian origin who held a senior post in the US Department of Education, resigned in January, Reuters recalls.
The administration of President Joe Biden has come under increasing criticism from the international community and human rights groups for its support for Israel in the ongoing offensive in the Gaza Strip, which has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians and sparked a humanitarian crisis in the region.
The Biden administration is also showing signs of disagreement. In November, more than 1,000 employees of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) at the State Department signed an open letter calling for an immediate ceasefire. On the internal "disagreement channel" objections to Washington's policy were also filed with the State Department.
The war in the Gaza Strip has caused tense public discussions and anti-war demonstrations across the United States, which is Israel's most important ally, Reuters recalls.
The Palestinian Islamist group "Hamas" attacked Israel on October 7, killing 1,200 people, according to Israeli figures. According to the Gaza Ministry of Health, in the subsequent offensive in the "Hamas" enclave the Israeli army has killed over 34,000 people.