Blinken Confronted by Furious Reporters at Gaza Briefing — ‘Why Did You Let My Friends Die?’ One Dragged Out in Heated Exchange

Two reporters were kicked out of a press conference held by Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Thursday after loudly interrupting his speech with accusations against the U.S. government. The reporters claimed the White House was responsible for a “legacy of genocide” and called Blinken a “criminal” who should face trial at The Hague. One of them had to be physically removed from the room after refusing to stop shouting.

The press conference was organized to give updates on a ceasefire deal announced the previous day. The deal was supposed to include a temporary stop to the fighting between Israel and Hamas and the release of hostages held since the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks. However, on the same day as Blinken’s remarks, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the deal was on hold, accusing Hamas of breaking its commitments.

The disruptions started when Max Blumenthal, the editor-in-chief of The Grayzone, stood up and shouted at Blinken. He criticized the Secretary of State for continuing to support Israel’s bombing campaigns and accused him of betraying international agreements for political reasons. Blumenthal repeatedly yelled, despite Blinken calmly saying he would take questions after his speech. Security eventually stepped in and escorted Blumenthal out of the room. As he left, he continued shouting accusations about Blinken’s ties to pro-Israel lobbying groups and blamed him for what he described as a humanitarian disaster in Gaza.

Not long after, another journalist, Sam Husseini, began interrupting Blinken while he was speaking about U.S. efforts to secure the release of hostages worldwide. Husseini accused Blinken of avoiding tough questions and shouted criticisms of the U.S. government’s role in the conflict. When a State Department official asked Husseini to stop and wait for the Q&A session, he refused and kept yelling. Security guards eventually approached him and physically dragged him from his seat while he loudly protested, accusing the government of hypocrisy and silencing the press. As he was carried out, Husseini shouted, “Why aren’t you in The Hague?” and claimed he was being mistreated for simply asking questions.

Both reporters later shared their experiences online. Blumenthal posted a video of his confrontation and referred to Blinken as the “Secretary of Genocide.” Husseini, meanwhile, claimed he was subjected to “excessive force,” saying he was handcuffed after being removed. He also promised to provide further updates on his website.

The dramatic moments brought attention to the heated debate surrounding U.S. foreign policy, especially regarding its support for Israel during the ongoing conflict with Hamas. It also raised questions about how press freedom is handled in situations where journalists challenge government officials directly. Clips of the incidents quickly spread on social media, sparking reactions from both supporters and critics of the reporters’ actions.