Secretary of genocide: Pro-Gaza protesters interrupt Antony Blinken amid speech

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken was interrupted by pro-Palestine protesters as he laid out plans for the post-war reconstruction and governance of Gaza amid negotiators trying to finalise a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas.

While one protester called him a "secretary of genocide", others claimed that President Joe Biden's administration was complicit in alleged Israeli war crimes in the besieged Palestinian enclave.

The incident occurred on Tuesday while the outgoing Secretary of State was speaking at the Atlantic Council, a think-tank based in Washington D.C.

"You will forever be known as bloody Blinken, secretary of genocide. You have the blood of thousands of innocent people on your hands," one protester shouted before being led out of the event.

Despite the interruption, Blinken remained calm and said, "I respect your views. Please allow me to share mine."

As he resumed his speech, the top US diplomat was again interrupted by another pro-Gaza protester, who called him a "war criminal" and "monster".

"How do you sit there and tell civilised people, your policy, kill kill kill... You are a war criminal, you have no compassion, you are a monster,” she shouted.

During the speech, Blinken also criticised Israel for not doing enough to rein in anti-Palestinian violence in the West Bank, withholding tax revenue from the Palestinian Authority (PA) and opposing any significant future role for the West Bank leadership in Gaza.

He came down heavily on the PA as well for resisting longstanding demands for reforms.

POST-WAR GAZA MANAGEMENT PLAN

Regarding the post-war management plans, he said the US had envisioned a reformed PA to lead Gaza and invite international partners to help establish and run an interim administration for the enclave.

"For many months, we've been working intensely with our partners to develop a detailed post-conflict plan that would allow Israel to fully withdraw from Gaza, prevent Hamas from filling back in, and provide for Gaza's governance, security and reconstruction," Blinken said.

US President-elect Donald Trump and his incoming team have not said whether they would implement the plan.

Blinken said a post-conflict plan and a "credible political horizon for Palestinians" was needed to ensure that Hamas does not re-emerge.

““All too often, in the Middle East, we’ve seen how the shoes of one dictator can be filled by another, or give way to conflict and chaos.”

Israel launched its assault in Gaza after Hamas fighters stormed across its borders in October 2023, killing 1,200 people and taking more than 250 hostages, according to Israeli tallies.

Since then, more than 46,000 people have been killed in Gaza, according to Palestinian health officials, with much of the enclave laid to waste and most of its population displaced.

(With PTI, Reuters inputs)