Major Harrison Mann, an American Jewish military intelligence officer, resigned to protest U.S. support for Israel in its war against Hamas in Gaza. He stated that the situation in Gaza reminded him of the Holocaust and he felt he had to step away from the conflict. Mann’s resignation comes after growing alarm at the civilian casualties and suffering inflicted on Palestinians in Gaza.
While Mann clarified that he was not comparing the war in Gaza to the Holocaust in terms of scale, he did mention that his experience at Yad Vashem, Israel’s Holocaust memorial, played a part in his decision to resign. Mann’s resignation adds him to a small group of government officials who have publicly resigned over U.S. support for Israel and its military campaign in Gaza.
Mann expressed concerns about the disproportionate response to the conflict and the civilian casualties that he foresaw. He felt that his resignation was necessary to align with his moral principles, despite the challenges of dissent within the intelligence community. Mann’s decision has sparked further conversations within the Biden administration about opposing Israel’s military campaign in Gaza.
In his first public interview, Mann stated that Israel’s actions in Gaza represented some form of ethnic cleansing and criticized the Biden administration for supplying weapons to Israel despite reservations about their conduct in the conflict. He also raised concerns about the use of American weapons against civilians in Gaza and questioned the intentionality behind the high civilian death toll.
Overall, Mann’s resignation reflects his personal moral stance and his belief that he could no longer support U.S. involvement in the conflict in Gaza. His decision has sparked discussions about dissent within the government and the ethical implications of supporting military campaigns abroad.
Israeli Official: More Than One Third of Gaza Deaths are Combatants
Israeli officials claim that their military takes steps to minimize civilian casualties and believe that over 30% of the deaths in Gaza have been combatants. However, there is no independent data available to confirm this.
When asked about the precise number of civilian casualties, Mann, a Jewish American, stated that the exact tally was not essential in shaping his views on the conflict. He emphasized that even if his estimates were incorrect, any loss of innocent lives is unacceptable.
Mann’s personal connection to the region includes a grandmother who was born in Palestine before Israel’s establishment. Having lived briefly in Jerusalem and studied Hebrew and Arabic, he has witnessed a shift in pro-Israel sentiment within his own family during the ongoing conflict. Mann believes that the unconditional support from the U.S. to Israel hinders peace efforts in the region.
Expressing concern for the safety of both America and Israel, Mann urges Jewish Americans to reassess the impact of U.S. aid on Israel’s actions. He acknowledges the historical significance of Israel as a refuge for Jews but highlights the need for accountability in present times to ensure the safety of all parties involved.