Israel hearing in the US Senate
Protesters interrupt Blinken six times
October 31, 2023, 5:14 p.m
The residents of the Gaza Strip live in catastrophic conditions. This is causing criticism among the US population. US Secretary of State Blinken and US Defense Secretary Austin are now presenting an aid package that is intended to support Israel. They are disturbed by angry protests.
Demonstrators repeatedly interrupted a hearing with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on the Middle East conflict and other crises in the Senate. During Blinken’s opening statement at the public meeting in Washington, individual protesters stood up every few minutes, held up placards and shouted demands such as: “Ceasefire now”, “Stop the genocide in Gaza”, “Stop the Israeli massacre”.
Various people in the audience repeatedly silently held up their red-painted hands, which looked as if they were smeared with blood. Several of them later stood up together and also chanted. The American people were unwilling to finance Israel’s brutal war, they roared.
Security forces led the demonstrators out of the hall one by one. Blinken had to interrupt his statement half a dozen times because of the disruptive actions. The minister said he heard “the passion that is being expressed in this room and outside this room.” Blinken assured that everyone was committed to protecting civilians in the war between Israel and Hamas, which rules in Gaza. “We all know the suffering that is taking place at this moment. We are all determined to end it.”
Netanyahu rejects ceasefire
At the hearing, Blinken and Austin answered questions about the approximately 105 billion US dollars (a good 99 billion euros) aid package that US President Joe Biden has requested from Congress to support Israel and Ukraine, among other things.
Since the bloody attacks by the Islamist Hamas against Israel on October 7th, Israel’s army has been bombing Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip. Meanwhile, Israeli ground troops are also advancing in Gaza against the Islamist Hamas. The catastrophic situation for the residents and the high number of civilian casualties in the densely populated coastal area are triggering increasing international criticism of Israel’s actions. However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejects a ceasefire. The US government also argues that a general ceasefire would currently play into the hands of Hamas.