An internal reminder of agency policy went out to Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) staff Wednesday about social media posts that could be construed as political, Fox News has confirmed.
This internal reminder came after reports surfaced that a senior CIA officer had posted a pro-Palestinian image on social media two weeks after the Oct. 7 terrorist attack on Israel.
In a statement to Fox News, the CIA said its officers are committed to “analytic objectivity.”
“CIA officers may have personal views, but this does not lessen their — or CIA’s — commitment to unbiased analysis,” the agency said.
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An image showing a man waving a Palestinian flag against a stormy background in Jordan was shared by a senior CIA official on Facebook two weeks after the Oct. 7 terror attack on Israel. ( Ahmed Abu Hameeda/Unsplash)
The CIA has not denied the authenticity of the pro-Palestinian image first reported by the Financial Times. Several former CIA officials who spoke to the outlet raised concerns that the senior official’s post demonstrated bias that could undermine the agency.
According to the Financial Times, the CIA’s associate deputy director for analysis changed her Facebook cover photo on October 21 to an image of a man waving a Palestinian flag. The image has been used in several articles posted online that are critical of Israel.
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Central Intelligence Agency logo in lobby of the CIA headquarters (Reuters)
In another post, the official reportedly published a selfie with a sticker saying “Free Palestine” superimposed on the photograph. The Financial Times reported that a person familiar with the image said it was posted to Facebook years ago, long before the renewed war between Israel and Hamas.
“The officer is a career analyst with extensive background in all aspects of the Middle East and this post was not intended to express a position on the conflict,” the source familiar told the Financial Times.
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A separate source familiar with the pro-Palestinian posts told Fox News Digital that there were also posts by the same CIA officer taking a stand against antisemitism.
The senior official’s social media posts were reportedly taken down after the Financial Times published its report.
The official, who has not been named due to concerns for their safety, reportedly holds an important role in the CIA and has previously overseen the production of the President’s Daily Brief, a compilation of highly classified intelligence the president receives most days.
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The controversy over the post comes after hundreds of Biden administration staffers signed a letter opposing President Biden’s handling of the Israel-Hamas war.
The letter, signed by 400 officials from the State Department, White House, National Security Council and the Justice Department, urged Biden to demand a cease-fire in Gaza, which the president has opposed in favor of temporary pauses in fighting. Additionally, dozens of State Department staffers reportedly wrote an internal memo condemning the administration’s public stance towards Israel.
Fox News Digital’s Anders Hagstrom and Kristine Parks contributed to this report.
