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Blinken Faces Calls to Resign Over Alleged Lies to Congress About Israel's Humanitarian Aid Blockage
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken faces calls for resignation over allegations of lying to Congress about Israel's blockade of humanitarian aid to Gaza, potentially violating US law and perpetuating genocide.
MEDITERRANEAN SEA 06.20.2024 Photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Jordan KirkJohnson Joint Planning Support Element - Public Affairs
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is facing mounting pressure to resign after a ProPublica report revealed that he contradicted his own department's experts to maintain US weaponry flows to Israel, despite the country's alleged war crimes in Gaza.
The report, citing internal communications and documents, shows that Blinken's State Department delivered a report to Congress that disputed findings from experts within the department and the US Agency for International Development (USAID). USAID had informed Blinken in April that Israel was deliberately impeding US humanitarian aid shipments.
Nihad Awad, national executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), condemned Blinken's actions, stating, "When a senior American official lies to Congress in the middle of genocide, he is deliberately flouting the law and prolonging the suffering of millions of innocent people." Awad demanded Blinken's resignation and accountability from the Biden administration.
The ProPublica report highlights that under US law, the federal government cannot provide arms or military equipment to countries obstructing American humanitarian aid. However, the State Department's May report to Congress claimed that Israel was not restricting US humanitarian assistance.
Stacy Gilbert, a former State Department official, resigned over the report, stating that "there is abundant evidence showing Israel is responsible for blocking aid" and that denying this was “absurd and shameful.”
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A recent analysis by human rights organizations revealed that Israel's siege is currently blocking over 80% of food aid from reaching Gaza, which faces famine. Awad accused Blinken of potentially committing a crime with his alleged lies.
Other experts and advocates, including Sam Perlo-Freeman, echoed calls for Blinken's resignation or impeachment. Congressional Republicans are pushing to hold Blinken in contempt, albeit for unrelated reasons.
The controversy surrounding Blinken's actions has sparked outrage, with many demanding accountability for the Biden administration's role in supporting Israel's actions in Gaza.
