A Senate hearing on a supplemental funding package to aid Israel in its war against Hamas descended into chaos Tuesday morning when more than a dozen provocateurs were jailed after shouting at Secretary of State Antony Blinken for a ” ceasefire now!”
The chaos boiled over soon after Blinken began speaking at the Senate Appropriations Committee meeting, with the first heckler yelling at Blinken to “stop supporting the genocide and ethnic cleansing of the people of Gaza.”
“Ceasefire now! Save the children of Gaza, save the children of Gaza!” the man shouted as his voice cracked.
“Where is your pride America?” he asked in the hearing room while being dragged out by security.
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Secretary of State Antony Blinken was interrupted Tuesday morning by a jeer during a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing on a funding request for Israel. (Fox News)
Less than a minute later, another woman stood behind Blinken holding a sign that read “No More $$$ 4 Israel” and began interrupting his speech.
“Not one senator is calling for a ceasefire, shame on you all!” he shouted.
Blinken was interrupted several more times, during which one of the protesters identified himself as a former Army colonel and diplomat.
“I resigned from that war in Iraq that you talked about. That was a terrible thing. And what we are doing now in supporting Israel’s genocide in Gaza is also a terrible thing,” he said. .
Blinken never looked back as the chaos unfolded, telling the committee that President Biden’s additional funding request for Congress “provides our undying support to Israel and Ukraine to democracies under brutal repression.” -attack by actors determined to wipe their countries off the map.
“This will ensure that Israel can continue to defend its people by building on the diplomatic, security and intelligence support that the United States has stepped up since the horrific killings by Hamas,” he said, referring to the -attack on October 7 in southern Israel that launched the war.
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Protesters raised their painted hands on Tuesday at a Senate hearing involving Secretary of State Antony Blinken. (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images)
He later addressed the protesters at the hearing, saying “I also hear passions expressed in this room and outside this room.
“We are all committed to the protection of civilian life. We all know the suffering that is taking place as we speak. We are all determined to see this end. But we all know the need to stand up to our allies. and partners when their security, when their democracy is threatened,” Blinken said. “That is what is happening now. We stand firmly with them as we stand firmly for the protection of innocent civilians.”
More than a dozen hecklers were removed from the hearing, and a large police presence now formed outside the room.
A protester is removed as Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin testify during a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing to review the national security supplemental request, on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, on Tuesday. (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images)
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“Secretary Blinken, I just really want to thank the Capitol Police for their very calm and professional manner. We all appreciate it,” said Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., the chairwoman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, at one point.
Fox News’ Tyler Olson contributed to this report.
