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In an internal move, the CIA has sent a cautionary email to its employees, reinforcing the policy against posting political content on social media platforms. This action follows a recent incident where a senior CIA officer posted a pro-Palestinian image on Facebook, as reported by the Financial Times.

According to a US official, the internal communication was a reiteration of the existing policy, aiming to maintain the apolitical stance of the agency’s staff.

The senior officer involved, Amy McFadden, an associate deputy director for analysis at the CIA, shared an image featuring a Palestinian flag, commonly associated with critiques of Israeli policies. However, this individual, who has extensive knowledge of Middle Eastern affairs, was not penalized. A source familiar with the matter clarified that the post was not intended as a commentary on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Additionally, the analyst has previously expressed opposition to antisemitism on social media.

In response to inquiries, a CIA spokesperson said, “CIA officers are committed to analytic objectivity, which is at the core of what we do as an Agency. CIA officers may have personal views, but this does not lessen their — or CIA’s — commitment to unbiased analysis.”

This development comes at a time of internal debate within the federal government regarding President Biden’s handling of the recent Israeli-Hamas conflict in Gaza.