A group of activists have been camping outside the home of US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Virginia for 12 days, calling for an immediate ceasefire in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. The protesters, who belong to the anti-war group Code Pink, have been holding signs, chanting slogans, and throwing fake blood at Blinken’s motorcade, accusing him of having blood on his hands.
Blinken faces pressure from protesters and lawmakers
The activists, who call their movement “Occupy Blinken,” have been disrupting Blinken’s daily routine and drawing attention to the plight of the Palestinians in Gaza, where more than 1,400 people have been killed and 8,000 injured since the start of the Israeli offensive on October 7. The protesters say that the US is complicit in the war crimes committed by Israel, which receives $3.8 billion in military aid from Washington every year.
The protesters are not the only ones who are pressuring Blinken to take action to end the violence. On Tuesday, Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin faced a barrage of questions and criticisms from senators during a hearing on President Joe Biden’s $105 billion national security budget request, which includes $3.3 billion for Israel and $275 million for Ukraine. Several senators from both parties expressed their concern about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and urged Blinken to push for a ceasefire.
Blinken defends the US role in the Middle East
Blinken, who has been traveling to the Middle East to meet with Israeli and Arab leaders and negotiate a pause in the fighting and the release of hostages, defended the US role in the region and said that a ceasefire would only benefit Hamas, the militant group that controls Gaza and has been firing rockets at Israel. Blinken said that a ceasefire would “consolidate what Hamas has been able to do and allow it to remain where it is and potentially allow it to repeat” its attacks on Israel.
Blinken also said that the US is committed to supporting Israel’s right to self-defense and to helping the Palestinian people with humanitarian aid and reconstruction. He said that the US is working with the UN and other partners to deliver assistance to Gaza and to facilitate dialogue between the parties. He said that the ultimate goal is to achieve a two-state solution that would ensure the security and dignity of both Israelis and Palestinians.
Activists vow to continue their protest until a ceasefire is achieved
The activists, however, are not satisfied with Blinken’s words and actions. They say that the US is not doing enough to stop the bloodshed and to hold Israel accountable for its violations of international law. They say that the US should cut off its military aid to Israel and impose sanctions on its officials. They also say that the US should support the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement, which aims to pressure Israel to end its occupation and oppression of the Palestinians.
The activists say that they will continue their protest outside Blinken’s home until a ceasefire is achieved and the siege on Gaza is lifted. They say that they are not afraid of the police or the neighbors, who have complained about the noise and the disturbance. They say that they are motivated by their love for humanity and their solidarity with the Palestinian people.
