Members of the anti-war group Code Pink on Wednesday appealed to Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin to “stop supporting mass murder” over the Biden administration’s continued support for Israel in its fight against Hamas terrorists.
Austin left a House Defense Appropriations subcommittee hearing in which Austin and other leaders were testifying on the Pentagon’s fiscal year 2025 budget request, as members of Code Pink expressed dissatisfaction with U.S. policy toward Israel. I was about to leave.
“We feel he knows better than to say, ‘This is not genocide,’ and he knows that Israel is violating international law and U.S. law, so He should stand up and say so, and not cooperate with the Israeli military like so many people.’Thousands of civilians have been killed, and many more are being killed every day.’ Pink founder Medea Benjamin told FOX News Digital.
A video posted to X shows Austin emerging from a committee hearing as members of Code Pink wait in the hallway.
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Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and members of the anti-war activist group Code Pink painted their hands red to symbolize blood. The group confronted Austin on Wednesday and demanded that the U.S. end its support for Israel. (Getty Images, Associated Press)
As Austin was leaving, he heard someone say, “The world isn’t that safe.”
“Please stop supporting mass murder,” said another.
“Israel attacked the Iranian consulate in Damascus. Israel incited a wider conflict,” one person is heard saying off camera. “Iran has not killed anyone yet, but if it continues to arm Israel’s genocide, the situation will escalate further.”
Iran announced earlier this month that an Israeli attack on its consulate in the Syrian capital Damascus left two Iranian generals and five officers dead.In response, Iran launched dozens of missiles unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), Israeli officials said unmanned aircraft, also known as drones, flew into Israel on Saturday, but many were destroyed and failed to reach their targets.
In addition to fighting Hamas in the Gaza Strip, Israeli forces have been fighting Iran-backed Hezbollah on a second front on the Israel-Lebanon border since October 7.
Critics of Israel’s military strikes claim the Jewish state is committing acts of genocide against Palestinians, a claim that Israeli and American officials dispute.
“As for Israel’s practices, we condemn what Russia is doing in Ukraine, but Israel has killed more civilians in six months than Russia has killed in more than two years,” Benjamin said. Ta.
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One Code Pink member was arrested during a hearing on Wednesday, the group announced on X.
“Secretary Austin has blood on his hands,” a woman identified only as Helen said as she was being restrained.
“You can take me out into the hallway, but you can’t shut my mouth! I’m outraged that my country is committing genocide!” she said.
Fox News Digital has reached out to the Department of Defense.
Code Pink is known for protesting US involvement and support in various conflicts. The group describes itself as a “feminist grassroots organization working to end U.S. war and imperialism.”
A man cries after being hit by an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City, Gaza. (Belal Khaled/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
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Among its causes, the group opposes U.S. sanctions against Iran, Venezuela, North Korea, and Cuba, including torture, the Guantanamo Bay detention center in Cuba, weaponized surveillance drones, and whistleblower prosecutions. I am also against it.
“We support Palestinian rights, diplomacy and a growing local peace economy,” the group says on its website.
“This conflict started 75 years ago. It didn’t start on October 7,” Benjamin said, referring to the creation of the state of Israel. “Palestinians have been dispossessed and oppressed for many years, and there will always be some resistance.”
