‘Are you compromised by Israel,’ American journalist asks Blinken in heated exchange
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan (not seen) hold a joint press conference after their meeting in Ankara, Turkiye on December 13, 2024. ( Murat Gök - Anadolu Agency )
Outgoing U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken faced protests Thursday from two reporters on the genocide in the Gaza Strip during a news conference at the State Department.
One journalist asked Blinken if he is compromised by Israel due to “family ties.”
American journalist Max Blumenthal interrupted Blinken’s remarks at the beginning of the briefing and said 300 reporters in Gaza were targeted by U.S. bombs.
“Why did you keep the bombs flowing when we had a deal in May, we all knew we had a deal. Everyone in this room knows we had a deal, Tony, and you kept the bombs flowing. Why did you sacrifice the rules-based order on the mantle of your commitment to Zionism,” shouted Blumenthal.
‘Are you compromised by Israel?’
“Why did you allow my friends to be massacred? Why did you allow my friend’s homes in Gaza to be destroyed when we had a deal in May. You just helped destroy our religion, Judaism, by associating it with fascism. You wave the white flag before you wave the white flag before Israeli fascists. Your father-in-law was an Israel lobbyist. Your grandfather was an Israel lobbyist. Are you compromised by Israel?” Blumenthal said.
“Why did you allow the Holocaust of our time to happen? How does it feel to have your legacy be genocide? How does it feel to have your legacy be genocide? You too, Matt, you smirk through the whole thing every day. Smirk through genocide,” he said. The Matt he was referring to is Matthew Miller, a spokesperson for the agency.
Another reporter, Sam Husseini also protested and was forcibly removed from the briefing room after interrupting Blinken’s final news conference.
UN calls for press freedom
The United Nations on Thursday called on all states to respect media freedom after Blinken faced protests from two reporters on the genocide in the Gaza Strip at a news conference.
Responding to Anadolu’s question on the incident, U.N. deputy spokesman Farhan said he does not know the details of the protests.
“But obviously, we expect all nations to respect the rights of all journalists,” he said at a news conference.
‘Why aren’t you in the Hague?’
Blumenthal protested Blinken’s remarks at the beginning of the briefing and said 300 reporters in Gaza were targeted by U.S. bombs.
“Why did you keep the bombs flowing when we had a deal in May, we all knew we had a deal. Everyone in this room knows we had a deal, Tony, and you kept the bombs flowing. Why did you sacrifice the rules-based order on the mantle of your commitment to Zionism?” shouted Blumenthal.
Husseini also protested Blinken, and was forcibly removed from the briefing room after interrupting Blinken’s news conference.
Husseini called Blinken a “criminal.”
“Everyone from Amnesty International to the ICJ is saying Israel is doing genocide and extermination and you’re telling me to respect the process? Why aren’t you in the Hague?” said Husseini.
