'Ceasefire Now': Pro-Palestinian Protestors Interrupt Blinken, Anti-Jewish Graffiti Found In Paris

Demonstrators calling for ceasefire in Gaza interrupted Blinken during Senate hearing. Anti-semitic graffiti comes up in Paris in the wake of Israel Hamas war.

Antony Blinken was interrupted by demonstrators calling for ceasefire during Senate hearing

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The war between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas, which will soon complete a month has evoked sentiments in various parts of the world as anti-war demonstrators interrupted US Secretary of State Antony Blinken during a Senate hearing on Tuesday. Meanwhile anti-semitic graffiti on buildings in Paris have reminded people of the 1930s. 

On Tuesday, Blinken and US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin testified about the White House’s $106bn national security funding request.

As Blinken began his testimony, the demonstrators stood up and shouted over him calling for a ceasefire in Gaza, making Blinken take a pause and forcing lawmakers to suspend the hearing several times, as per a BBC report.  

Numerous people who stood in the crowd repeatedly yelled: "Ceasefire now!” 

U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken was just interrupted as he testified in a Senate committee.

The protesters call for an immediate end to support for genocide in Gaza and a ceasefire now. pic.twitter.com/kV5fTV2mNO

— Stop Cop City (@JoshuaPHilll) October 31, 2023

Some of the demonstrators were affiliated to anti-war group CODEPINK, which has also called for the US to stop sending weapons to Ukraine. Many protestors wore pink and held placards that read “No to the siege of Gaza", as they called for the US to stop sending funds to Israel.

Some protestors painted their hands red “to symbolise blood”, the group said. 

The police said 12 people were arrested for illegally protesting inside the Dirksen Senate Office Building and CODEPINK confirmed that some of their members were arrested, the BBC report added. 

Blinken acknowledged the protesters and "the passions expressed in this room" at the end of his statement.

Anti-Semitic Graffiti In Paris 

Meanwhile France has been grappling with a rise in the incidents of anti-semitism which included anti-semitic graffiti on streets of Paris. The stars of David have been found graffitied on buildings in the Paris area, in acts that political leaders have said "recall the 1930s", stated another BBC report. 

Some 60 Stars of David were found painted on walls in the 14th arrondissement of Paris on Monday night. 

According to Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin, over 850 such acts have been reported in France since the Hamas October 7 surprise attacks in Israel, the report added. 

Authorities in Paris said that a probe will be launched into degradation of property aggravated by racist intent and Emmanuel Grégoire, deputy to Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo said that the stars would be removed and an investigation will be launched. 

Similar graffiti were also found in other area of Paris. The stars were accompanied by inscriptions such as "from the river to the sea, Palestine will win".

Vowing a "merciless fight" against surging anti-semitism, French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne on Tuesday said, "The situation in the Midddle East does not justify anti-semitism."