YouTube star Rachel has linked up with Mehdi Hasan, a journalist known for his anti-Israel stance. Actor and comedian Michael Rapaport voiced his frustration on Monday, criticizing those who exploit Jewish identity for racial commentary, especially in light of ongoing discussions surrounding Hamas’s viewpoints on Israel.
Rachel, whose full name is Rachel Griffin Cruso, amplified claims made by Hamas about casualty figures in the ongoing conflict with Israel, particularly highlighting the number of children supposedly affected.
In a statement on TikTok, Quartsos mentioned in 2024, “Over 14,000 precious children are not alive in Gaza. Gaza has the highest number of child amputees in history. We cannot remain silent about these children’s conditions.”
However, the figures provided by Hamas were widely regarded as exaggerated, with subsequent estimates showing a significant reduction. As noted by Fox News, 72% of those killed in military actions were men aged between 12 and 55.
Some observers noted that the frequent promotion of Hamas’s views by children’s show hosts gave the impression that they were acting as mere spokespeople for the group.
“Considering the massive foreign funding aimed at enhancing youth perspectives on university campuses, we see a similar trend among online influencers,” Liora Rez, director of Stopantisemitism, stated.
Conversely, Accurso defended her stance on Gaza during an interview with Hasan.
“As a teacher, your concern extends to all children. I believe that through my years of teaching, I’ve seen that they share so much in common. They love to laugh, learn, and play, and they truly deserve that,” she explained.
She added, “It’s unfortunate that discussing the suffering of children has become controversial. I think it should actually be more controversial to remain silent.”
Global YouTube educators emphasize that “choosing silence was not an option” when it comes to acknowledging the violence faced by Palestinian children.
Hasan previously lost his position at MSNBC in 2024 following a series of contentious remarks regarding Israel. His dismissal came after the network had already ended his weekly program.
In the aftermath of the tragic attacks on Israeli civilians on October 7, Hasan criticized Israel’s military response to an attack on Al-Ara Arab Hospital in Gaza, supporting several leftist narratives, including inaccurate claims comparing Israel’s actions in Gaza to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, as reported by New York Post.
His remarks have drawn backlash, including condemnation from more moderate figures like Michael Rapaport for what he views as hateful rhetoric.
