Several journalists who are not members of the regular State Department press corps and reportedly outspoken critics against U.S. support for Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza repeatedly interrupted U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Thursday, Jan. 16, during his final press conference. Blinken was interrupted by several journalists, but the situation quickly escalated after one reporter had to be removed by security.
The scene unfolded in the State Department briefing room. Independent journalist Sam Husseini, a long-time critic of U.S. foreign policy, yelled at Blinken over U.S. support for Israel.
Hussein reportedly called Blinken a “criminal” and said he belonged in The Hague, which is the capital city of South Holland, where the International Court of Justice (ICJ) is located.
The interruption ended once security picked Husseini up and forcefully carried him out of the room, as he continued to yell at Blinken and accused Israel of war crimes.
Blinken, who leaves office on Monday, Jan. 20, when President-elect Donald Trump is inaugurated, later took questions from reporters. Blinken has been heckled during appearances in Washington, D.C., since the war in Gaza began more than a year ago.
Pro-Palestinian activists have also reportedly camped outside Blinken’s home in Virginia and repeatedly threw red paint to symbolize blood on a car carrying the secretary of state and his family.
Blinken has been targeted by pro-Palestinian protesters because of the U.S. supplying weapons to Israel, and diplomatic support of the country.
Israel’s war against Hamas started after the terror group’s attack on Oct. 7, 2023, left 1,200 people dead and 250 more kidnapped. More than 46,000 Palestinians have been killed since the war began, according to the Hamas-controlled Gaza Health Ministry.
While Israel has been accused of war crimes, the Biden administration said it cannot determine if Israel violated international law, because Hamas hides within the Palestinian civilian population.
