Watch John Oliver’s Shameful Israel Rant: Ignores Hamas, Fuels Antisemitism

HBO’s Last Week Tonight host John Oliver delivered a 20-minute segment lambasting Israel for Gaza’s humanitarian crisis, while omitting critical context about Hamas’s role in perpetuating the suffering. Oliver called Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a “sh—y magician” for questioning famine claims, stating, “What’s happening in Gaza right now is a famine. All the information we have points to that, except for this f—ing guy [Netanyahu] and a few adult junior detectives squinting at each photo of a skeletal child to figure out if they’re the right kind of dying.” He criticized U.S. military aid to Israel, noting $18 billion provided in the war’s first year, and mocked Donald Trump’s description of starving children as “very hungry,” calling it a rare instance of empathy from the U.S. President.

Oliver’s narrative ignored Hamas’s systematic diversion of humanitarian aid, with Israeli intelligence estimating that up to 25% of supplies are redirected to fighters or sold to civilians at inflated prices. Hamas imposes “taxes” on aid shipments and blocks deliveries not under its control, exacerbating Gaza’s plight. Israel, meanwhile, has facilitated aid through measures like daily humanitarian pauses from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. in Gaza City, Deir al-Balah, and Al-Mawasi, and secured corridors to expand access. The U.S.-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation aims to bypass Hamas, delivering aid directly to civilians. Strikingly, Oliver failed to mention the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack that sparked the conflict, killing 1,189 people, including 815 civilians, injuring 7,500, and abducting 251 hostages, 49 of whom remain captive. He also ignored Hamas’s repeated rejection of ceasefire proposals, including three in 2024, which could have alleviated the crisis.

This selective framing aligns with a broader trend of celebrities and influencers, like Huda Kattan, jumping on pro-Palestinian narratives while spreading Hamas propaganda and ignoring the group’s role in Gaza’s suffering. Social media on X erupted, with one user stating, “Oliver’s lies erase Hamas’s crimes, hurting both Jews and Gazans.” Critics argue such misinformation fuels antisemitism and obscures Hamas’s genocidal intent, as outlined in its 1988 charter, while neglecting the hostages’ plight.