“We just do what Israelis want us to do in Palestine,” says former US diplomat

Former US State Department deputy political counselor for Gaza, Mike Casey resigned in protest over Washington's policies on Palestine, accusing his government of blindly following Israel's agenda.

A former US Army veteran who served in Iraq, Casey revealed in an interview with The Guardian that he submitted his resignation in July. 

He explained that his decision was driven by his deep disappointment with US policies toward Palestine, particularly the disregard for the humanitarian crisis in Gaza while continuing unwavering support for Israel.

“We don’t have a policy on Palestine. We just do what the Israelis want us to do,” Casey told the British newspaper.

Casey said his growing disillusionment made it impossible for him to continue serving in the government. “I was too embarrassed to continue being an American diplomat,” he added. “I knew I couldn’t go to another assignment and function.”

In his role, Casey was responsible for "political reporting on internal politics and security in the Gaza Strip, as well as Palestinian reconciliation efforts." He also led "interagency efforts on Gaza and served as a backup for economic issues related to the region," according to The Guardian.

The US Office of Palestinian Affairs, established in 2002, has been central to addressing Palestinian issues. However, Casey criticised the Biden administration’s handling of the Gaza conflict that erupted in October 2023. 

He claimed that proposals he and his colleagues made to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza were rejected by higher authorities, who aligned with Israel’s plans. According to Casey, Israel's alternative solution was to let “local clans rule the strip.”

Casey’s office rejected this idea, refusing to allow warlords to control Gaza.

Now working at a bank in Michigan, Casey shared his frustration with constantly writing  reports of civilian deaths in Gaza. 

"I was tired of writing for dead kids," Casey said while expressing frustration over the Biden administration’s dismissal of casualty reports, despite the evidence of Israel’s extensive war crimes in the region.