Pro-Gaza protestors devolve Senate hearing into chaos as Sec. Lloyd Austin says 'no evidence' that Israel has committed genocide against Palestinians and Biden's top military brass plead for critical ammunition and weapons support to Ukraine

Pro-Palestinian protestors began shouting during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing, interrupting Biden's top military leaders over 25 times as they plead for military assistance for Ukraine.

Defense Sec. Lloyd Austin and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Charles Q. Brown were answering questions on the Defense Department's 2025 military budget request which totals a staggering $850 billion. 

Shortly after the hearing began, Austin testified, 'We don’t have any evidence of genocide being [committed]' on Palestinians by Israel, a claim that directly cuts against what protesters earlier in the hearing alleged he was supporting. 

Just minutes before, chaos broke out as hecklers started yelling at Biden's top military officials, accusing them of being complicit in genocide in Gaza.

'Enough is enough how many people have to die,' one protestor yelled about lives lost in Gaza as Israel attempts to take out terror group Hamas. 'How many children have to die?' 

'Enough killing my people, enough,' the man continued. 

'Stop bombing Gaza,' the protestor demanded. 'Stop funding Israel.'

Pro-Gaza protesters interrupt Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin as he testifies before the Senate Armed Services Committee on Tuesday

The protestors waved flags, raised their painted hands and did their best to interrupt the meeting Tuesday morning

'Enough killing my people, enough,' the man holding the flag screamed at the leaders

'Stop funding Israel,' another voice shouted, this time coming from a woman implanted in the hearing room. 

In response, Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., quickly told the room, 'the committee stands at recess until the Capitol Police can restore order.' 

As the Capitol Police began escorting the pro-Gaza group out, the protestors continued yelling their demands. 

Later, once the protestors were escorted out of the committee room, the hearing resumed. 

Reed continued, 'It is not appropriate for comments or demonstrations. We are conducting a hearing and we will do so we are..'

'Stop the genocide in Gaza,' a woman yelled back at him, immediately cutting him off. 

'Stop funding the genocide in Gaza,' another lady screamed.

They held up their hands as they made demands from the Senate and military leaders. 

'Stop the war machine,' another voice shouted. 

'I will direct the Capitol Police to remove the demonstrators,' Reed said again.

The demonstrators charged the U.S. with being complicit in a genocide carried out in Gaza by Israel, a claim that the Secretary of Defense denies.

Later, Austin would go on to talk about U.S. plans to aid the Gaza strip, including the establishment of a pier that would be used to bring food and aid supplies into the Hamas-run area.

He said the pier would 'probably' be ready 'by the third weekend of this month.' 

If true, that means the military aid pier could be ready in just a couple of days.

Senate Armed Services Committee Chair Jack Reed told the Capitol Police to escort the protestors out of the hearing. Then after another group of demonstrators began interrupting the proceedings, he demanded they were escorted out by authorities too 

Defense Sec. Lloyd Austin was explaining the U.S. military's 2025 budget to lawmakers when the protests broke out

A protestor calling for a ceasefire in Gaza yells as she is escorted out of the room by Capitol Police during a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin on October 31, 2023

'The United States has steadfastly supported Israel’s right to self-defense; worked to prevent the conflict in Gaza from igniting new eruptions on Israel’s northern border [and] pushed to protect innocent Palestinian civilians and get far more humanitarian aid into Gaza,' Austin said in his opening remarks.

'In the Middle East, the Department remains committed to Israel’s right to self-defense; to ensuring that Israel never has to endure another assault like October 7th; to the swift return of all hostages in Gaza, including American citizens; and to preventing the further spread of conflict.'

'At the same time, we continue to press Israel to protect Palestinian civilians and to increase the flow of urgently needed humanitarian assistance into Gaza.'

The military leaders also mentioned how it is critically important to continue funding Ukraine's ongoing war. 

'If Putin prevails in Ukraine, it would embolden would-be aggressors everywhere,' Austin said.

'The world of chaos and conquest that Putin seeks—one in which autocrats think they can rewrite borders by force—would leave the United States far less secure.' 

Austin said Ukraine's survival is directly linked to U.S. security. 

The Pentagon's proposed budget for 2025 includes $300 million for ammunition for Ukraine, but Austin admitted the military needs Congress to act to free up more money for the ongoing effort. 

The House is expected to continue work on a supplemental foreign aid funding package for Ukraine, however, it is unclear how the chamber will move forward.