A Senate hearing on a supplemental funding package to assist Israel in its war against Hamas\u00a0descended into chaos Tuesday morning as more than a dozen hecklers were detained after yelling at Secretary of State Antony Blinken for a \u2018cease-fire now!\u2019\u00a0<\/p>\n
The unrest boiled over immediately after Blinken began speaking at the Senate Appropriations Committee meeting, with the first heckler screaming at Blinken to \u2018stop supporting the genocide and ethnic cleansing of the people of Gaza.\u2019\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u2018Cease-fire now! Save the children of Gaza, save the children of Gaza!\u2019 the man shouted as his voice was cracking. \u00a0<\/p>\n
\u2018Where is your pride, America?\u2019 he asked the hearing room while being dragged out by security.\u00a0<\/p>\n
LIVE UPDATES: ISRAEL AT WAR WITH HAMAS<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Less than a minute later, another woman stood up behind Blinken holding a sign reading \u2018No More $$$ 4 Israel\u2019 and began interrupting his statement.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u2018Not one senator is calling for a cease-fire, shame on you all!\u2019 she yelled.\u00a0<\/p>\n Blinken then was interrupted several more times, with one of the protesters identifying herself as a former Army colonel and diplomat.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u2018I resigned on that war in Iraq that you talked about. That was a terrible thing. And what we\u2019re doing right now in supporting Israel\u2019s genocide of Gaza is a terrible thing, too,\u2019 she said.\u00a0<\/p>\n Blinken never looked behind him as the chaos was unfolding, telling the committee that President Biden\u2019s supplemental funding request for Congress \u2018provides for our enduring support to Israel and Ukraine to democracies under brutal assault by actors determined to wipe their nations off the map. \u00a0<\/p>\n \u2018It will ensure that Israel can continue to defend its people by building on the diplomatic, security and intelligence support that the United States has surged since Hamas\u2019 appalling slaughter,\u2019 he said, referencing the Oct. 7 attack in southern Israel that launched the war.\u00a0<\/p>\n FLORIDA REPUBLICAN URGES DEFUNDING UN HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL UNTIL UN CONDEMNS HAMAS<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n He later mentioned the protesters at the hearing, saying, \u2018I also hear very much the passions expressed in this room and outside this room. \u00a0<\/p>\n \u2018All of us are committed to the protection of civilian life. All of us know the suffering that is taking place as we speak. All of us are determined to see it end. But all of us know the imperative of standing up with our allies and partners when their security, when their democracy are threatened,\u2019 Blinken said. \u2018That\u2019s what\u2019s happening now. We stand resolutely with them as we stand resolutely for the protection of innocent civilians.\u2019\u00a0<\/p>\n More than a dozen hecklers were removed from the hearing, and a large police presence formed outside the room.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u2018Secretary Blinken, I just really want to thank the Capitol Police for their very calm and professional manner. We all appreciate it,\u2019 Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., the chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, said at one point.\u00a0<\/p>\n Fox News\u2019 Tyler Olson contributed to this report.\u00a0<\/p>\n