Blinken Heckled By Reporters at Gaza Briefing — One Forcibly Dragged Out: ‘Why Did You Allow My Friends to Be Massacred?’

Two reporters were removed from a press conference held by Secretary of State Anthony Blinken Thursday morning, interrupting with shouted questions accusing the White House of having a “legacy of genocide,” with one of them eventually getting physically dragged out as he continued to yell at Blinken that he was a “criminal” who belonged in The Hague.

Blinken delivered remarks at the State Department to provide updates to the press corps on the ceasefire deal that had been announced just the day before. The deal was to include a ceasefire and release of Israeli hostages who had been held since Hamas’ attack on October 7, 2023, but on Thursday Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office announced it was on hold as he accused Hamas of “reneging” on the deal.

As Blinken spoke, he was interrupted by Max Blumenthal, editor-in-chief of The Grayzone, and then Sam Husseini, an American journalist whose parents emigrated from Palestine and Jordan.

“Three hundred reporters in Gaza were on the receiving end of your bombs,” called out Blumenthal near the beginning of Blinken’s remarks. “Why did you keep the bombs flowing when we had a deal in May?”

“I’m happy to address questions –” said Blinken.

“We all knew we had a deal,” Blumenthal continued. “Everyone in this room knows we had a deal, Tony. And you kept the bombs flowing.

“I’m happy to address questions when we get a chance. Thank you,” said Blinken but Blumenthal was undeterred.

“Why did you sacrifice the rules-based order on the mantle of your commitment to Zionism?” the reporter called out. “Why did you allow my friends to be massacred? Why did you allow my friends’ homes in Gaza to be destroyed when we had a deal in May?”

“I’m happy to address your questions when we — when we get to questions. Thank you,” Blinken tried again.

“You helped destroy our religion, Judaism, by associating it with fascism,” said Blumenthal, getting increasingly louder as State Department officials attempted unsuccessfully to get him to wait to ask questions at the end and escorted him out. “You waved the white flag before Netanyahu. You waved the white flag before Israeli fascists. Your father-in-law was an Israeli lobbyist, your grandfather was an Israeli lobbyist — are you compromised by Israel? 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?”

As Blumenthal was being escorted out, he addressed some comments to State Department press secretary Matt Miller, saying “You smirked through the whole thing every day. You smirk through a genocide!”

Blumenthal posted a video clip of his shouted questions, bashing Blinken as the “Secretary of Genocide” and Miller as his “smirking press secretary.”

Husseini interrupted Blinken again later, and was also escorted out of the briefing room — more forcibly than Blumenthal, being physically dragged from his seat.

As Blinken was talking about the hostages, and other U.S. citizens “who are held wrongfully or hostage in countries around the world,” Husseini began shouting questions as a State Department official scolded him to “respect,” “let him speak,” and wait to ask his questions. Like with Blumenthal moments before, Blinken said several times he would answer questions at the end of his remarks but Husseini was undeterred.

“Instead of making a speech every day –” said Husseini.

“Sir, would you like to be escorted out?” said the official.

“Go away,” Husseini replied.

“You don’t have the responsibility to tell me where to go,” she retorted. “Do you want to be escorted out or not?”

“Thank you. I look forward to answering questions in a minute. Thank you,” said Blinken.

“I’m not a potted plant,” said Husseini.

“Everyone will have an opportunity to ask a question in just a minute. Thank you,” said Blinken, attempting to get back to his remarks when shouts rang out from Husseini.

“Get your hands off me! Get your hands off me! Get your hands off me! Answer a damn question!” yelled Husseini.

“I was sitting here quietly, and now I’m being manhandled by two or three people!” Husseini continued yelling as security officials pulled him up from his seat. “You pontificate about a free press. You pontificate about a free press. You’re hurting me! You are hurting me! You are hurting me! I am asking questions, after being told by Matt Miller that he will not answer my questions until I’m –”

“Please, sir, respect the respect the process,” Blinken said calmly. “We’ll have an opportunity to take questions in a few minutes.”

“Wasn’t the point of the the May 31st statement to block the ICJ orders? You blocked the ICJ orders. You –” called out Husseini.

“Please, sir, respect the process. Thank you,” Blinken repeated.

“Oh, respect the process? Respect the process,” yelled Husseini as he was being carried from the room. “While everybody, everybody from the — from Amnesty International, from Amnesty International to the ICJ saying that Israel is doing genocide and extermination, and you’re telling me to respect the process?”

“Criminal!” yelled Husseini. “Why aren’t you in The Hague? Why aren’t you in The Hague? Why aren’t you in the Hague?”

Later, CNN aired another angle of Husseini being removed from the room, showing security officials approach him and drag him from his seat as he yelled at Blinken.

Drop Site News reporter Ryan Grim posted his own video of the incident.

Husseini shared Blumenthal’s tweet and wrote, “Following this I tried to ask a series of questions. Was carried out and handcuffed,” calling it “[c]ompletely excessive force” and promising updates soon on his website.

Watch the video clips above via CNN.