Pro-Palestinian protesters interrupt Senate hearing with Pentagon leaders

Pro-Palestinian protesters on Tuesday interrupted a Senate hearing with Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Charles Brown and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.

The Senate Armed Services Committee held a hearing on the Defense budget that was interrupted by individuals protesting the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza. 

“Stop killing my people,” one protester said. “Stop funding Israel.”

Multiple demonstrators began to chant “stop the genocide in Gaza,” according to The Hill. 

Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., criticized the protesters and said their behavior was not appropriate as a hearing was being held.

Austin was later asked whether he believed there was a genocide in Gaza to which he responded, “We don’t have any evidence of genocide."

The Palestinian-affiliated group Hamas launched a terror attack on Israel in October 2023, which resulted in Israel declaring war on Hamas in Gaza.

The war effort has sparked worldwide criticism that Israel, with whom the U.S. is a close ally, is killing too many Palestinians in its war effort. The U.S. supplies weapons to Israel and is poised to continue such efforts.

“I would remind everybody that what happened on Oct. 7 was absolutely horrible.” Austin also said.