The State Department’s top intelligence official said that the Israeli war in Gaza is creating fertile recruitment for Islamic terrorist groups. The official, Brett Holmgren, is set for a promotion from State to National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC).
In an interview with the Washington Post, Holmgren explained the October 7 Hamas attack and the following Israeli response has been a “recruiting opportunity” for terrorist organizations as well as an “inspiration for lone actors.”
The groups are exploiting the anger at Washington for its unrelenting support for Tel Aviv as Israeli troops rampage throughout the Gaza Strip, killing over 38,000 Palestinians.
Holmgren has headed the State Department’s intelligence agency as Assistant Secretary of State for Intelligence and Research since 2021. He previously worked at the CIA, and his 2018 wedding was officiated by former President Barack Obama. During the Trump presidency, Holmgren was positioned outside of government, working as a vice president at Capital One.
During Israel’s nine-month onslaught in Gaza, over 15,000 children have been killed. This has resulted in a near-daily stream of images and videos of dismembered and dead children circulating social media.
Tel Aviv has additionally prevented most aid from entering Gaza. Nearly one million Palestinians are on the brink of famine due to the lack of food, water, and medical aid.
The Israeli military operations have come with full-throated support from the White House. For months, the Biden administration refused to even call for a ceasefire. The US has sent tens of thousands of bombs to Israel, and investigations into attacks on civilian targets in Gaza have found that American munitions were used to slaughter innocent people.
