‘Our dissatisfaction with your actions reflects the sentiments of young people across the US,’ open letter warns Growing schism in Democratic Party threatens president’s re-election chances later this year LONDON: Former White House interns in the US have signed an open letter urging President Joe Biden to support an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, The Guardian reported on Monday. Several of the interns worked in the White House and the president’s executive office in 2022 and last year. They are accusing Biden of having “betrayed” his pledge to promote equality and justice while in office. His unwavering support for Israel has drawn criticism among factions of his Democratic Party, threatening his prospects of re-election later this year. A broad movement of Arab and Muslim Americans, as well as progressive Democrats, have called on the party’s leadership to change its stance on the Gaza war. In the open letter, the former interns said: “Consistently, you call upon young people to lead through the world’s most pressing challenges. Yet our voices are ignored as our generation speaks in solidarity with the majority of Americans and the world, underscoring the contrast between the values we embraced together and the actions we now witness.” Polling in the US has revealed that most Americans are dissatisfied with Biden’s handling of the war, with a notable loss of support among young people. The letter added: “Our dissatisfaction with your actions reflects the sentiments of young people across the US — individuals whom you credited as instrumental in securing your 2020 victory. “We urge the president and vice president to take concrete steps to end the conditions of apartheid, occupation and ethnic cleansing in Gaza by: Standing with our allies around the world in demanding a permanent ceasefire, ending unconditional military aid to Israel, securing the release of Israeli and Palestinian hostages alike, and labeling Israel’s recent actions as war crimes. “Anything less than these measures undermines the justice we collectively aspired to achieve.” The letter also demonstrates a growing schism within the White House administration. Last month, a group of current interns urged Biden to support a ceasefire. And last week, the administration’s only Palestinian-American official, Tariq Habash — an education department adviser — resigned in protest at Biden’s handling of the war. Despite the president appearing to escalate his disapproval of certain Israeli actions in the conflict, critics say Biden’s words have yet to translate into action. The open letter comes as Gaza’s Health Ministry reported the deaths of at least 22,835 Palestinians since Oct. 7, mostly women and children. The UN recently warned that half of Gaza’s 2.2 million residents faced starvation amid destroyed infrastructure and a lack of aid deliveries.