“Stop the genocide in Gaza”: Protesters repeatedly interrupt Israeli hearings in the US Senate

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During Blinken’s opening statement at the public meeting on Tuesday, individual demonstrators stood up every few minutes, held up signs and shouted demands such as: “A ceasefire now,” “Stop the genocide in Gaza” and “Stop Israel’s massacre.”

Several people in the audience repeatedly silently held up their red-painted hands, which looked as if they were smeared with blood. Some of them later stood up together and sang too. 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 six times because of the disruptive actions. The minister said he “heard the passion expressed in this room and beyond.” Blinken assured that everyone is committed to protecting civilians in the war between Israel and Hamas, which rules Gaza. “We all know the suffering that is happening right now. We are all determined to put an end to it.”

During the hearing, Blinken and Austin answered questions about the approximately $105 billion aid package that US President Joe Biden has asked Congress to support, among others, Israel and Ukraine.

Since the bloody attacks by the Islamist Hamas on Israel on October 7, the Israeli army has been bombing Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip. Meanwhile, Israeli ground forces 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 leading to 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 Hamas’s hands.

(SDA)

Source: Blick