WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) — Secretary of State Antony Blinken is back in the U.S. without the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas the U.S. had hoped to broker.
Blinken blamed Hamas for the holdup.
“Time is of the essence,” he said. “In the coming days, we are going to do everything possible to, one, get Hamas on board with the bridging proposal.”
As war continues in Gaza, tensions at home continue to simmer.
“Last night was a danger to our city,” said Chicago Police Superintendent Larry Snelling.
Snelling said officers arrested at least 55 pro-Palestinian protesters on the second night of the Democratic National Convention.
“They showed up with the intent on committing acts of violence, vandalism,” he said.
Other protests around the DNC remain peaceful. Rep. Cori Bush, (D-Mo.), is one of the protesters demanding a permanent ceasefire and arms embargo.
“The dropping of bombs and the killing of children is not reflective of the values and the principles that Democrats across this country came to Chicago to protect,” Bush said.
Some protesters have quietly tried to get that message inside the DNC, but a Michigan delegate was escorted out of President Joe Biden’s speech Monday night.
“We held up the banner during Biden’s speech because he’s the decider,” Liano Sharon said.
The president was one of the few speakers to address the issue on stage.
“Those protesters out in the street, they have a point,” President Biden said. “A lot of innocent people are being killed on both sides.”
Rep. Mike Waltz (R-Fla.) is also in Chicago and said Democrats will suffer the consequences of their division on this issue in November.
“That’s going to be reflected, especially with Jewish-American voters, in the polls,” Waltz said. The White House said President Biden and Vice President Harris spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu Wednesday about the ceasefire and hostage release deal.
