USA: Anti-war protesters disrupt hearing of foreign and defense ministers

Two of his closest associates US President Joe Biden called on US lawmakers today to provide billions of dollars in additional aid to Israel in a parliamentary hearing that was repeatedly interrupted by protesters who blasted US officials for supporting what they called the “genocide” of Palestinians in Gaza.

THE Foreign Secretary Anthony Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin testified to the Senate Appropriations Committee about Biden’s request for $106 billion to fund ambitious plans for Ukraine, Israel and US border security.

Arguing that the support of US partners is critical to national security, Biden requested $61.4 billion for Ukraine, about half of which would be spent in the United States to replenish its stockpile of weapons. vacate due to the provision of previous support for Kiev.

Biden also requested $14.3 billion for Israel, nine billion for humanitarian aid — including that for Israel and Gaza — $13.6 billion for US border security, $4 billion for military aid and government funding to counter China’s regional efforts in Asia.

At the start of the hearing, anti-war protesters raised their red-painted hands in the air. Capitol police then removed them from the room after chanting slogans such as “Cease fire now!”, “Protect the children of Gaza!” and “Stop financing genocide.”

Blinken did not respond to the protesters, but when asked later about the possibility of a cease-fire, he said it would only help regroup Hamas. A pause, however, on humanitarian grounds may be considered.

“We really think we need to think about things like humanitarian pauses to make sure that aid can get to those in need and that the world can be protected and out of harm’s way,” Blinken said.

US troops in Iraq and Syria have been attacked at least 20 times since October 17 by Iran-backed groups, prompting the US to launch airstrikes last week against two weapons storage facilities in Syria. But these attacks, which were intended to deter further attacks, have failed to do so, as attempts to harm American forces occur almost daily in both countries.

Austin said that if these attacks do not stop, “we will respond.”

Blinken said US support for Ukraine has made Russia’s invasion of Ukraine a “strategic disaster” and stressed the importance of supporting both security for Israel and humanitarian aid for the Palestinians in Gaza.

“Without quick and steady humanitarian aid, the conflict is much more likely to escalate, the suffering will grow, and Hamas and its sponsors will profit by presenting themselves as the saviors of the despair they have caused,” Blinken said.

Blinken said about 400 US citizens and their family members — about 1,000 people — are trapped in Gaza and would like to leave. He said the foreign ministry is working on the issue but has yet to find a way to help them leave.