On Tuesday, Secretary of State Antony Blinken faced a barrage of tough questions from both Republican and Democratic senators during a hearing on U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East.
But it was the disruptive actions of pro-Hamas protesters that stole most of the show.
As Blinken began his testimony before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, a group of individuals claiming to support Palestine began shouting and screaming, causing chaos in the room.
The protesters led by ‘Code Pink’ greeted him with cries of “war criminal,” “Secretary of Genocide,” and other names.
The Capitol Police were quick to respond, using physical force to remove the agitators from the hearing.
In video footage captured by various media outlets, protesters can be seen being dragged out of the room and placed under arrest by police officers. Some were reportedly charged with disorderly conduct and resisting arrest.
One protester, who identified himself as John Smith, told reporters outside of the hearing room that he was simply exercising his right to free speech and protesting against U.S. support for Israel.
“We will not stand idly by while our Palestinian brothers and sisters are oppressed by Zionist forces,” Smith declared.
But according to sources within law enforcement, some of these so-called peaceful protesters were actually inciting violence and promoting anti-Semitic rhetoric.
“These individuals were not just expressing their opinions, they were causing a disturbance and inciting violence,” said one Capitol Police officer. “We had to take action to maintain order and protect the safety of those in attendance.”
Per CODEPINK’s X:
NOW: As @SecBlinken enters a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing, this is how we greeted him:
"SECRETARY OF GENOCIDE!"
"WAR CRIMINAL!"
"THE BLOOD OF 40,000 PALESTINIANS IS ON YOUR HANDS!"
"EMBARASSMENT TO INTERNATIONAL LAW!" pic.twitter.com/CGRUtwqT7a— CODEPINK (@codepink) May 21, 2024
"HIND RAJAB WAS 6 YEARS OLD WHEN ISRAELIS KILLED HER! YOU WILL BE REMEMBERED AS THE BUTCHER OF GAZA!"
Mohamad Habehh of @AMPalestine confronts @SecBlinken as he testifies to Congress right now: pic.twitter.com/U1hH53D0ez
— CODEPINK (@codepink) May 21, 2024
Capitol Police roughly removed Mohamad from the hearing room, injuring others in the process, and have baselessly threatened him with resisting arrest and assaulting an officer.
Here is the video of the arrest: https://t.co/OgfswjnMvT pic.twitter.com/Lhotfq9OGx
— CODEPINK (@codepink) May 21, 2024
While arresting one protestor in today's Foreign Relations hearing with @SecBlinken, Capitol Police injured @AnnWright46, retired colonel and former diplomat.
As she was forced out of the room, she yelled "Stop the genocide!" pic.twitter.com/TJhOGmIB7t
— CODEPINK (@codepink) May 21, 2024
The disruption at the Senate hearing highlights the ongoing tensions between Israel and Palestine, with recent clashes leading to an increase in violence.
While many Americans, including members of Congress, have shown support for Israel’s right to defend itself against Hamas attacks, others have criticized the U.S. for not doing enough to intervene.
During his testimony, Blinken reiterated the Biden administration’s commitment to a two-state solution for Israel and Palestine and condemned Hamas for its rocket attacks on Israeli civilians.
“We stand with our ally Israel in its right to self-defense,” Blinken stated. “At the same time, we recognize the suffering of innocent Palestinians and are working towards a peaceful resolution.”
While some senators used their time to question Blinken about U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East, others took aim at President Biden’s handling of the situation.
Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) accused the administration of being weak on Israel and suggested that cutting off aid would be more effective in stopping Hamas aggression.
“Actions speak louder than words,” Cruz asserted. “And unfortunately, this administration’s actions have emboldened terrorists like Hamas.”
As the hearing concluded and order was restored by Capitol Police, it became clear that while there may be differing opinions on how best to handle tensions in the Middle East, disrupting a Senate hearing will not be tolerated.
Some pro-Hamas agitators face criminal charges for their actions, it serves as a reminder that free speech does not give anyone permission to cause chaos or incite violence.