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Turmoil at Blinken’s Final Briefing: Reporter Dragged Out Amid Accusations of War Crimes
Edited by: Fern Sidman
Tensions flared at Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s press conference Thursday, where the announcement of a cease-fire and hostage agreement between Israel and Hamas spiraled into chaos. According to a report in The New York Post, the event saw dramatic confrontations as State Department employees forcibly removed journalists accusing the United States of enabling a “genocide” in Gaza.
NEW: Two journalists, Max Blumenthal and Sam Husseini, were removed from Blinken’s final press conference after raising questions and making statements about the U.S.’s involvement in the Gaza war.
Reporter Sam Husseini was forcibly removed from the press briefing after asking… pic.twitter.com/lng6R8WJex
— I Meme Therefore I Am 🇺🇸 (@ImMeme0) January 16, 2025
The New York Post reported that Grayzone News journalist Max Blumenthal was escorted from the briefing room by State Department aides, while security guards forcibly removed independent journalist Sam Husseini. This occurred as Blinken praised the cease-fire agreement, initially proposed in May and slated to begin Sunday. The deal includes a 42-day cessation of hostilities, facilitating the release of Israeli and American hostages held in Gaza in exchange for Palestinian prisoners.
According to the information provided in The New York Post report, both Blumenthal and Husseini vocally criticized the timing and nature of the cease-fire. They argued that the 15-month conflict, initiated by the October 7, 2023, attacks, had resulted in tens of thousands of Palestinian casualties and questioned why efforts to end the violence were delayed. “Criminal!” Husseini shouted as security guards carried him out. In a video shared on X (formerly Twitter), Husseini demanded, “Why aren’t you in The Hague?” accusing Blinken of complicity in war crimes. The report in The New York Post noted that Husseini later posted on X, stating he had been handcuffed and that the security response was “completely excessive.”
🇺🇸🇮🇱🚨‼️ “Why did you allow my friends to be massacred, why did you sacrifice the rules based order on your commitment to Zionism?”
— @MaxBlumenthal blasts Tony Blinkin in his last conference! pic.twitter.com/uoKVS0DMHx
— Lord Bebo (@MyLordBebo) January 16, 2025
During the briefing, Blinken attempted to maintain order, urging the journalists to “respect the process.” He promised Husseini a chance to pose questions after his presentation. However, Husseini countered, invoking reports from Amnesty International and the International Court of Justice (ICJ) accusing Israel of genocide, according to the report in The New York Post.
The disruption escalated when Blumenthal interrupted Blinken, asking pointedly why U.S. arms support for Israel continued despite a potential cease-fire deal in May. “Why did you keep the bombs flowing when we had a deal in May?” Blumenthal demanded in footage shared on X. He also questioned Blinken’s stance on the destruction in Gaza, which included the homes of his personal acquaintances, The New York Post reported.
The New York Post detailed the agreement’s terms, emphasizing the significance of the upcoming cease-fire. While hailed by some as a crucial step toward de-escalation, the agreement has not quelled criticisms from those who see it as too little, too late. The 42-day truce aims to create a window for humanitarian relief and prisoner exchanges but leaves unresolved the broader issues fueling the conflict.
As the press conference unraveled into a contentious exchange, The New York Post report highlighted the broader implications of the outburst. The event reflected the mounting frustrations over U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East, particularly regarding the administration’s handling of the Israeli-Hamas conflict. The explosive confrontation drew attention to the challenges Blinken and the Biden administration face as they navigate international and domestic criticism in their efforts to address one of the most protracted and polarizing conflicts in the region.
The announcement of a cease-fire agreement between Israel and Hamas represents a significant development in the 15-month-long conflict that has devastated Gaza and claimed thousands of lives. According to The New York Post, the deal will initially secure the release of 33 hostages, including seven Americans, as part of a phased process set to begin Sunday. Over the six-week truce, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) will withdraw from Gaza, and much-needed humanitarian aid will flow into the region, marking a tentative step toward recovery and reconstruction.
The New York Post reported that the deal faced substantial hurdles before being finalized. Hamas initially pushed to include prisoners accused of murder in the exchange, which sparked significant backlash in Israel. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu came under pressure from the right wing of his coalition, many of whom oppose ending the war before Hamas is entirely dismantled.
The agreement comes in the shadow of Hamas’s October 7, 2023, massacre, a brutal attack that left 1,200 people dead, including 46 Americans. The tragedy marked the deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust, further intensifying global scrutiny of the conflict. The Knesset is expected to vote on the cease-fire agreement on Friday, with implementation set for Sunday—just one day before President-elect Donald Trump’s return to the White House.
The New York Post highlighted key remarks from U.S. officials regarding the ongoing crisis. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, addressing reporters on May 13, 2024, stated unequivocally that the Biden administration does not view Israel’s actions in Gaza as genocide. “We do not believe what is happening in Gaza is a genocide,” Sullivan said, emphasizing the administration’s rejection of such characterizations. However, he acknowledged the need for Israel to take greater measures to protect innocent civilians.
Further complicating the narrative, The New York Post noted that Secretary of State Antony Blinken had agreed with a preliminary State Department report suggesting that Israel’s actions in Gaza likely violated international humanitarian law. This admission followed a January 2024 statement from the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which criticized Israel for not doing enough to prevent genocide but stopped short of calling for an immediate cease-fire.
