WASHINGTON, DC: In a hotly-anticipated segment, 'Last Week Tonight' with John Oliver addressed the ongoing Hamas-Israel conflict, shedding light on what the host deemed as misconceptions in media coverage.
The host specifically took aim at Newsmax and Fox News, criticizing their portrayal of Palestinians in Gaza and their association with the Hamas government.
John Oliver targets Fox News' Jesse Watters
Oliver, known for his sharp commentary, singled out Fox News personality Jesse Watters, providing insight into Watters' rise within the network.
Watters moved up the ranks in Fox News from conducting man-on-the-street interviews for 'The O’Reilly Factor,' followed by a stint hosting a weekly show, to co-hosting the channel’s roundtable show, 'The Five,' to finally inheriting Tucker Carlson’s primetime hour
"He’s a lot like Tucker, except he’s less charismatic, way dumber, and with somehow even more of an I’ve-killed-someone-during-a-fraternity-hazing-accident vibe, which is really saying something," Oliver quipped.
“Because look, it is true that Gazans did at one point elect Hamas but if you think that makes them all complicit in war crimes their government commits, then boy, do I have bad news for you about decades of US foreign policy," he added.
Speaking of elections in Gaza, Oliver highlighted the asterisks needed due to Hamas not holding an election since 2006. He pointed out the youth demographic in Gaza, emphasizing that many have never had the opportunity to vote. Additionally, he mentioned Hamas leader Ghazi Hamad's previous portrayal of the party as more moderate during the 2006 election.
“And look, even if all Palestinians in Gaza did support Hamas—which they do not—the relentless bombings of civilians there would still be abhorrent,” Oliver said.
“Collective punishment is a war crime. But the fact is there is much more criticism of Hamas in Gaza than Americans in general and these dipshits in particular (on Newsmax and Fox News) are willing to admit. Palestinians in Gaza are not a monolith. And nor, importantly, are Israelis.”
Critique of Israeli government and leadership call
Oliver also criticized the Israeli government, spotlighting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's controversial tenure. He highlighted internal dissent within Israel, referencing family members and hospital staff expressing discontent with Bibi's government officials.
"I don’t have a solution for peace in the Middle East," Oliver admitted, adding, "But it does seem to me personally that a ceasefire does have to be the first step."
According to The Daily Beast, Israeli families, even those with members held hostage by Hamas, have called for an end to bombings and a focus on bringing their loved ones home. The outlet addressed global calls for a ceasefire, noting the reluctance of leaders such as Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and US President Joe Biden to explicitly use the term.
"Any conversation around this has to begin with empathy, or we’re just f**ked," Oliver stated emphatically. "We know that dehumanizing people leads to violence. We know that violence leads to even more brutality and destruction. And we know that, crucially, breaking that cycle is unfortunately going to require leadership significantly different than the ones currently in place," he concluded.
