Washington: Protesters interrupted US Secretary of State Marco Rubio's testimony Tuesday before a Senate committee to denounce Washington's support for Israel amid its attacks in the Gaza Strip. Rubio was addressing the Senate Foreign Relations and Appropriations Committees on the proposed State Department budget for fiscal year 2026 when two activists shouted slogans condemning US policy.
According to Anadolu Agency, there were also protests before Rubio entered the room. "Stop the genocide," "Sanction Israel," and "Start feeding the children!" protesters affiliated with CODEPINK, a group advocating peace and human rights, yelled as Rubio was entering the hearing. Committee chairman Jim Risch had earlier warned of "zero tolerance" for disruptions, threatening custody and year-long bans for any protester attempting to engage with lawmakers.
The disruption follows mounting criticism of US military aid to Israel. The Israeli army has pursued an offensive against Gaza since October 2023, resulting in the deaths of nearly 53,500 Palestinians, most of them women and children, rejecting international demands for a ceasefire. The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants last November for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.