{"id":29116,"date":"2023-10-16T11:34:34","date_gmt":"2023-10-16T18:34:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/?p=29116"},"modified":"2023-10-16T11:34:36","modified_gmt":"2023-10-16T18:34:36","slug":"us-state-dept-officials-told-not-to-use-terms-de-escalation-cease-fire-about-gaza","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/2023\/10\/16\/us-state-dept-officials-told-not-to-use-terms-de-escalation-cease-fire-about-gaza\/","title":{"rendered":"US State Dept. Officials Told Not to Use Terms ‘De-Escalation\/Cease-Fire’ About Gaza"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"U.S.<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks during a ceremony on August 9, 2023 in Washington, D.C. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

(Photo: Drew Angerer\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“This is unconscionable and will leave an indelible stain,” said one critic, who urged “resignations and collective action” to protest the reported policy.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

JESSICA CORBETT<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Oct 13, 2023 (CommonDreams.org)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

As Israel on Friday bombarded civilians in Gaza and prepared for a ground invasion in response to Hamas’ recent attack, U.S. State Department leadership reportedly<\/a> instructed officials not to publicly use some terms that would advocate for less violence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to HuffPost<\/em>, which reviewed official emails, “State Department staff wrote that high-level officials do not want press materials to include three specific phrases: ‘de-escalation\/cease-fire,’ ‘end to violence\/bloodshed,’ and ‘restoring calm.'”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

HuffPost<\/em> noted that “when reached for comment on the directive, a State Department official said they would not comment on internal communications.” However, others were quick to blast the policy as “disgusting<\/a>,” “maddening<\/a>,” and “pretty shocking<\/a>.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Guardian<\/em> columnist Moira Donegan called it<\/a> “a horror and a moral abdication that we, Americans, can never atone for.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Adam Shapiro, director of advocacy for Israel-Palestine at Democracy for the Arab World Now (DAWN), said<\/a> that “if you work at the U.S. Department of State and you believe that you are there for diplomacy and making the world a better place\u2014now is the time for resignations and collective action.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“This is unconscionable and will leave an indelible stain,” added Shapiro, who was far from the only critic to call the directive ” unconscionable<\/a>.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

!!!! This is bad. https:\/\/t.co\/lL6XUX0abA<\/a><\/p>— Sherrilyn Ifill (@SIfill_) October 13, 2023<\/a><\/blockquote>