[A protester from the group CODEPINK holds up a child and disrupts U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin (L) as he speaks at a House Appropriations Committee hearing on Capitol Hill on April 17, 2024 in Washington, D.C. (Photo: Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 17, 2024
Media Contact: Melissa Garriga | [email protected]
Palestinian-American Mother Disrupts Lloyd Austin's Testimony While Holding Up Her 16-Month-Old Son
"MY CHILD IS HUMAN! STOP KILLING PALESTINIAN CHILDREN!"
WASHINGTON—A group of peace activists and concerned citizens disrupted the Defense Secretary and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chair's Testimony on the 2025 Budget Request. One disrupter was Naseebah Hajjaj, a Palestinian-American mom who disrupted the hearing with her 16-month-old son, Hamza.
"MY CHILD IS HUMAN! STOP KILLING PALESTINIAN CHILDREN," Naseebah declared as she held Hamza up for everyone in the room to see.
Naseebah is a Palestinian American who arrived in the US when she was two months old. She hasn't been able to visit Gaza, but she knows her family there. Approximately 20 of those family members in Gaza have been murdered, and the rest are in Rafah, homeless or starving. She has a full-time job but, like many, now takes time off to advocate for Gaza in Congress.
Another activist, Helen, was arrested after she disrupted the hearing.
“Secretary Austin, why are you denying Israel's genocide in Gaza? Why are you denying genocide in Gaza?" Helen asked the defense secretary.
“The whole world sees it! You know the laws of war! You know you have blood on your hands! You have blood on your hands! We have blood on our hands," she continued.
Helen's arrest marks her second time disrupting a hearing. Last week, she was arrested after disrupting USAID's Samantha Power.
While police were escorting Nassebah, her baby, and Helen out, the remainder of the group stood up. They continued to disrupt as they were removed from the hearing. Their disruption resulted in the cut of the live feed. The peace activists called out Secretary Austin for his denial of Israel's genocide in Gaza last week.
"There is a genocide in Gaza! South Africa's case provides the evidence for you. The IDF soldiers post the evidence online themselves! Lloyd Austin, you're a liar," the group proclaimed.
For more information about this disruption or to request videos/photos, please get in touch with Melissa at [email protected].
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