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Several individuals, on Tuesday, October 31, sat in silence behind US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, their hands bearing red paint symbolizing the dire situation in Gaza. Some participants intermittently rose to their feet, chanting “Stop shooting now.” One vocal protester cried out, “Save the children of Gaza” and “Shame on you all,” while another chose to wear a jacket emblazoned with the message “Stop funding genocide.” The disruptions prompted multiple interruptions in Blinken’s address before the demonstrators were escorted out of the hall by police.
A congressional testimony featuring the United States Secretaries of State and Defense, dedicated to discussing increased support for Israel and Ukraine, was met with a passionate interruption by protestors. Amidst the proceedings, demonstrators raised their voices, shouting “save the children of Gaza” and “ceasefire now.”
WATCH
The occasion marked a pivotal moment as US President Joe Biden urged Congress just ten days ago to approve a budget allocation exceeding 105 billion dollars, including 14.3 billion dollars designated for Israel assistance. During the session, two of President Biden’s senior aides lobbied Congress for additional billions of dollars to support Tel Aviv.
President Biden’s budget request encompassed $14.3 billion for Israel, $9 billion allocated for humanitarian relief in Israel and Gaza, $13.6 billion designated for US border security, and $4 billion earmarked for military aid and government funding to address China’s efforts in the Asia-Pacific region. Additionally, $61.4 billion was sought for Ukraine, with nearly half to be utilized within the United States to replenish depleted weapons stockpiles resulting from prior support for Kiev. The disruptions at the congressional testimony underscore the impassioned public sentiment surrounding these budgetary considerations.
