As US secretaries of state and defence began to brief the Senate Appropriations Committee on the Biden administration’s request for more money to fund the wars in Israel and Ukraine, a line of anti-war protesters got up and raised red-stained hands in the air.

They shouted: “Ceasefire Now, Protect the Children of Gaza and Stop Funding Genocide” before they were removed from the room.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin testified to the Senate Appropriations Committee on the Biden administration’s request for an additional $106 billion, which includes $14.3bn for Israel, $9bn for humanitarian relief — including for Israel and Gaza.

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