State Department rushes to respond to internal outcry over Israel-Hamas war
CBSN
Senior State Department officials have held listening sessions for diplomats serving in six U.S. embassies in the Middle East and North Africa amid a persistent outcry over the Biden administration's approach to the war in Gaza, officials told CBS News, as the department rushes to address criticism from its workforce in both Washington and abroad.
The sessions come amid a swell of protest from diplomats, civil servants and other department employees as the conflict enters its second month and civilian casualties in Gaza resulting from Israel's retaliatory military operations mount.
At least one cable has been submitted to the department's Dissent Channel, CBS News has learned, and Secretary of State Antony Blinken has met personally with its authors. A source familiar with Blinken's engagements said he regularly solicits differing viewpoints from diplomatic colleagues.
