Bill Maher Questions Silence of Pro-Palestinian Protesters Amid Hamas Violence
Late-night host Bill Maher is questioning the lack of public response from college protesters who previously demonstrated against Israel, as reports emerge of Hamas using violence against Palestinians in Gaza.
During Friday’s episode of “Real Time with Bill Maher,” the comedian asked businessman Mark Cuban about the absence of demonstrations now that Hamas is “shooting everybody.” “Where are the protesters?” Maher asked. Cuban responded, “Shooting everybody,” and Maher repeated the sentiment. These comments followed months of student-led anti-Israel demonstrations on campuses nationwide, which often included clashes with police and resulted in hundreds of arrests. Some observers have noted that support for Palestinians during those protests sometimes appeared to overlap with support for Hamas.
Recent footage circulating online allegedly shows Hamas fighters executing Palestinians in Gaza City’s main square, with Reuters reporting at least 33 Palestinian deaths in recent days attributed to the group following a temporary truce with Israel. This development raises concerns about the internal dynamics within Gaza and the impact on civilians. Former President Donald Trump has called for the revocation of visas for foreign students found to support Hamas, a position reflecting growing scrutiny of international students’ political activities. You can learn more about the ongoing conflict at the Council on Foreign Relations.
Yesterday, Trump posted on Truth Social, stating, “If Hamas continues to kill people in Gaza, which was not the deal, we will have no choice but to go in and kill them.” Maher also criticized what he described as an “asymmetry” in the response to events, highlighting the silence from those who previously led anti-Israel demonstrations. The situation underscores the complexities of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the challenges of navigating public discourse surrounding it; for background, see Britannica’s overview of the conflict.
Officials have indicated further action will be taken based on Hamas’s continued actions in Gaza.
