John Oliver’s Remarks on Gaza and Israel

Comedian John Oliver recently shared his thoughts on the situation in Gaza during his show, Last Week Tonight. He stated that “Gaza is hungry for Israel,” notably not mentioning the terrorist organization Hamas.

He referred to various human rights organizations that have reported on starvation in Gaza. Some voices within Israel remarked, “What’s happening in Gaza now is hunger.” Oliver highlighted this by saying, “All the information we have points to it, except for this guy. [Netanyahu].” He added that some young adult detectives are thoroughly aware of the troubling images of malnourished children.

Oliver discussed the necessity of global pressure on the matter, pointing out that the U.S. has provided Israel nearly $18 billion in military aid during the ongoing conflict. While he acknowledged that “Gaza is hungry” is technically true, he argued that it comes across as a bit misleading due to its passive tone. He concluded by reaffirming, “Gaza is hungry for Israel.”

Interestingly, throughout his commentary on the Israeli situation, Oliver did not once mention Hamas. This omission came during a segment that also highlighted a video depicting a weakened Israeli hostage being made to dig his own grave.

According to reports, “The reason Hamas is promoting its own atrocities is partly to instill fear in Israeli audiences, but also to pressure Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu regarding the demands of terrorists.” The small influence of Hamas propaganda is said to invoke memories of the Holocaust, a painful history for many Israelis.