On Tuesday, two senior advisors to U.S. President Joe Biden asked lawmakers to provide billions of additional dollars to Israel during a session in Congress that was repeatedly interrupted by protesters condemning the Biden Administration officials for their support of the "genocide" of Palestinians in Gaza. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin testified before the Senate Appropriations Committee regarding Biden's request for $106 billion to fund massive spending plans related to Ukraine, Israel, and U.S. border security.
Arguing that support for U.S. partners is vital to national security, Biden requested $61.4 billion for Ukraine, almost half of which will be spent in the U.S. to replenish weapon stocks depleted by previous support for Kyiv. He also requested $14.3 billion for Israel, $9 billion for humanitarian relief in Israel and Gaza, $13.6 billion for U.S. border security, and $4 billion in military aid and government funding to counter China's efforts in the Asia-Pacific region.
As the session began, a line of protesters raised their hands stained with red in protest of the war in Gaza. They were later removed by Capitol Police after chanting slogans such as "Stop the fire now!" "Protect the children of Gaza!" and "Stop funding genocide." Blinken did not respond to the protesters, but when later asked about the possibility of a ceasefire, he said that it would only help Hamas regroup. He added, however, that a humanitarian truce could be considered.
Blinken stated, "We believe we need to look at things like a humanitarian ceasefire to ensure that assistance reaches those who need it and to protect people from harm." U.S. forces in Iraq and Syria have been attacked at least 20 times since October 17 by Iran-backed groups, leading to U.S. airstrikes last week on two unoccupied weapons storage facilities in Syria. However, those operations, aimed at deterring further attacks, have not succeeded in achieving this goal amid near-daily attempts to target U.S. forces in both countries. Austin stated that if such attacks do not stop, "we will respond."
Blinken emphasized that U.S. support for Ukraine has turned the Russian invasion of Ukraine into a "strategic disaster" and stressed the importance of security assistance to Israel and humanitarian aid for the Palestinians in Gaza. He added, "Without rapid and sustained humanitarian relief, the conflict is likely to spread, suffering will increase, and Hamas and its backers will benefit by portraying themselves as saviors from this despair they have created."
Biden's support for Israel, which already receives $3.8 billion in U.S. military aid annually, has drawn criticism amid international calls to protect civilians in Gaza. This week, Israel launched a ground assault on the Gaza Strip in response to Hamas militants who killed 1,400 people and took at least 240 hostages. Palestinian authorities say the "comprehensive blockade" imposed by Israel on Gaza since that attack has resulted in the deaths of over 8,300 people, including thousands of children, and has left the territory in urgent need of fuel, food, and clean water.
Blinken stated that about 400 American citizens and their family members, approximately 1,000 people, are stuck in Gaza and wish to leave. He added that the U.S. administration is working on resolving this issue but has not yet found a way to assist them in departing.
