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Protesters caused chaos in Congress on Tuesday by demanding a ceasefire in Gaza and calling on the US to stop “supporting the genocide of the people of Gaza.” Protesters called Secretary of State Antony Blinken a “murderer” who has “blood on his hands” as his testimony before the Senate committee was derailed.
His remarks were interrupted several times by the group in the audience who demanded that the US stop “supporting the genocide of the people of Gaza.” Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin were forced to sit in chaos as protesters chanted “ceasefire now” and held up their hands covered in red paint. Capitol Police dragged at least five protesters outside as chaos interrupted the hearing.
It follows a series of similar demonstrations on Capitol Hill over the war between Israel and Hamas and comes hours after Republicans announced a plan to send $14.3 billion in aid to Israel. ‘Stop the brutal, brutal carnage in Gaza… Ceasefire now! Armistice now,” one heckler shouted. They also held signs reading: ‘All walls must be removed’ and ‘Liberate Gaza’. Another shouted: ‘Blink, you have blood on your hands! Killer.’
Blinken resumed his testimony as order was restored in the interrogation room. He referred to the protesters by saying the US was committed to “protecting civilian life.” ‘I also hear very much the passions expressed in this room and beyond. We are all committed to protecting civilian life,” he said
Just before the hearing began, Israel said it has killed “dozens” of Hamas terrorists in “fierce” fighting “deep” in Gaza, with video showing soldiers scouring the streets for the gunmen amid fierce battles.
Israeli forces attacked Hamas positions inside the terrorists’ vast tunnel network – a key objective for Israel as it expands ground operations in Gaza to root out Hamas following gunfire three weeks ago that killed more than 1,400 people.
On the fifth day of major ground operations in northern Gaza, the army said it had fought “fierce battles” with Hamas terrorists, with images showing columns of tanks and soldiers pushing further into the besieged enclave. The IDF said its forces in recent hours “attacked a Hamas terrorist outpost” in the northern Gaza Strip, killing “dozens” of armed men and destroying anti-tank missile launch and observation posts.
A video released by the IDF shows Israeli troops walking through the bombed streets of northern Gaza pointing their weapons at the destroyed buildings – ready to attack any move by Hamas terrorists who may be hiding there. The army said it had hit about 300 targets and seized “numerous weapons” such as guns and bombs, as well as “military compounds in underground tunnels” of Hamas terrorists.
In response, Hamas gunmen attacked Israeli forces with machine gun fire and anti-tank missiles. “The soldiers killed terrorists and ordered the air force to carry out real-time attacks on targets and terror infrastructure,” the IDF said. The fighting came after Netanyahu on Monday evening brushed aside a call from 120 countries for a lasting humanitarian truce, saying such a ceasefire would mean a “surrender” to Hamas.
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