U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken faced significant backlash and calls for his resignation this Tuesday. This came after a detailed ProPublica<\/em> investigation revealed that he had contradicted his own department’s expert advice to continue the supply of U.S. weapons to Israel, despite their use in committing alleged war crimes in Gaza.<\/p>\n “Secretary Blinken and the Biden administration turned a blind eye to Israel’s obstruction of humanitarian aid to the struggling population of Gaza\u2014a clear breach of American law\u2014and misrepresented this to Congress,” stated Nihad Awad, the national executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR). “It is unacceptable for a high-ranking U.S. official to deceive Congress during a genocide, allowing the U.S. to finance these atrocities. This is a deliberate violation of the law and exacerbates the distress of millions needing urgent help to halt these atrocities.”<\/p>\n “He should step down,” Awad continued, “and the Biden administration needs to be held responsible for breaking the law and participating in what he termed the ‘Israeli genocide in Gaza.'”<\/p>\n “The American people deserve honest and upright leaders to represent their values and protect their interests.”<\/p>\n The ProPublica<\/em> report, supported by internal communications and further documentation, exposed how the State Department under Blinken\u2019s guidance submitted a report to Congress that conflicted with findings from its own experts and those from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).<\/p>\n In April, USAID communicated directly to Blinken that Israel was intentionally blocking U.S. humanitarian shipments. This was in line with evaluations from the United Nations and other external organizations. U.S. law prohibits the provision of military assistance to nations that obstruct American humanitarian efforts.<\/p>\n Yet, in a May report to Congress, the State Department falsely stated that the Israeli government was not “prohibiting or otherwise restricting the transport or delivery of U.S. humanitarian assistance,” as per Section 620I of the Foreign Assistance Act.<\/p>\n State Department official Stacy Gilbert resigned in protest of the misleading report, stating upon her exit that it was “absurd and shameful” to deny the clear evidence of Israel’s role in blocking aid.<\/p>\n Recent analyses by a group of human rights organizations indicate that the siege by Israel is currently preventing over 80% of food aid from reaching Gaza as the region faces a severe famine.<\/p>\n On Tuesday, Awad emphasized that Blinken’s actions could potentially be criminal. “The American people deserve leaders who are honest and uphold their values and interests,” he reiterated.<\/p>\n The demand for Blinken’s resignation or removal has found support among various groups. While Congressional Republicans are pushing to hold Blinken in contempt on an unrelated issue, others argue his actions regarding Israel’s actions in Gaza are sufficient grounds.<\/p>\n Sam Perlo-Freeman, formerly of the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute and the Campaign Against Arms Trade, expressed on Twitter that Blinken “should resign or be impeached.” He noted, “most of Congress was very happy to be lied to and would have denounced Blinken for telling the truth.”<\/p>\n\n\n