Washington: Outgoing US Secretary of State Antony Blinken faced protests Thursday from two reporters on the genocide in the Gaza Strip during a news conference at the State Department. American journalist Max Blumenthal interrupted Blinken's remarks at the beginning of the briefing, accusing the US of targeting 300 reporters in Gaza with its bombs.

According to Anadolu Agency, Blumenthal questioned Blinken's actions, asking why the bombing continued despite an apparent deal in May. He accused Blinken of sacrificing a rules-based order for a commitment to Zionism, expressing outrage over the destruction of homes and loss of lives in Gaza. Blumenthal also criticized Blinken's family ties to Israel lobbyists, suggesting potential compromises and labeling the situation as "the Holocaust of our time." His outburst included a direct confrontation with Matthew Miller, a spokesperson for the agency.

Another reporter, Sam Husseini, also protested Blinken and was forcibly removed from the briefing room after interrupting the conference. Husseini highlighted statements from Amnesty International and the International Court of Justice (ICJ) regarding allegations of genocide by Israel, questioning why Blinken was not facing charges at The Hague.

The briefing followed Qatar's announcement of a cease-fire agreement to end over 15 months of Israeli attacks on Gaza, resulting in more than 46,000 deaths since October 7, 2023. The conflict has left the region in ruins and sparked a humanitarian crisis.

A three-phase deal is set to begin on Sunday, involving a prisoner exchange and aiming for sustained calm, a permanent truce, and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.

In November 2024, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, charging them with war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice related to its actions in the enclave.