Protesters interrupt Blinken's speech, Muslims announce they will not support Biden if US does not condemn Israel's attacks on Gaza

(Patria) - U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken was interrupted by protesters' shouts during his address to Congress. Those gathered demanded that President Joe Biden call for an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.

“Ceasefire now!”, “Save the children of Gaza!”, “Palestinians are not animals!”, were some of the messages chanted by protesters in the Senate. Their hands were painted red with the word Gaza written on them. Security personnel escorted them out of the hall.

After the situation calmed down, Blinken continued his address, stating that humanitarian aid must be allowed to enter Gaza, and civilians must be able to stay away from danger, which, as he said, is complicated by Hamas's “use of civilians as human shields”.

"Humanitarian pauses must be considered, helping to prevent the worsening of the humanitarian catastrophe is in line with our nation's deepest principles, including our belief that every civilian life is equally valuable, equally worthy of protection. Without rapid and continuous humanitarian aid, the conflict could spread," said Blinken.

During the day, Muslims in America told President Joe Biden that they would withhold their votes in the upcoming elections if the US does not condemn Israel's attacks on the Gaza Strip.

In an open letter titled “Ceasefire Ultimatum 2023”, Muslim leaders and the National Muslim Democratic Council pledged to mobilize Muslim voters to withdraw support or votes from any candidate who supports the Israeli offensive against the Palestinian people.

The National Muslim Democratic Council consists of Democratic Party leaders from key states such as Michigan, Ohio, and Pennsylvania, which are likely to be decisive in the elections.

“The unconditional support of your administration, including funding and armaments, has played a significant role in perpetuating the violence causing civilian casualties and has eroded the trust of voters who previously believed in you,” they stated.

Last week, Muslim Americans in Minnesota, where Biden plans to visit on Wednesday, issued a similar ceasefire ultimatum and even announced plans for a protest on Wednesday during the President's visit to their state.