Jon Stewart slams America's uneven response to Russia's war in Ukraine, Israel-Hamas war
Jon Stewart gave a biting critique of the U.S.'s role in the Israel-Hamas war on Monday night's "The Daily Show."
The Comedy Central host took a moment to do a "wellness check" on Gaza after the war hit the 6six-month mark over the weekend.
As the war has gone on, he said, "Justice is beginning to seem more like cruelty."
Stewart continued: "But not to worry: America, the shining city on a hill, is on the case with our universal values."
Addressing the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza, Stewart compared the U.S.'s response to Russia's war in Ukraine.
Stewart showed a clip of U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken calling Russia's weaponization of food in Ukraine "unconscionable," a description he agreed with.
"Speaking of which, there is a literal famine in Gaza caused by the war. I assume America will also consider this unconscionable," he said rhetorically.
Stewart then showed a clip of national security communications advisor John Kirby saying America was "concerned" about the crisis in Gaza.
"Well, you can't spell unconscionable without concern," Stewart said. "Or at least part of it — the 'con' part."
Stewart shared other examples of what he considers America's uneven response to the respective wars, including attacks on the free press. The comedian compared White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre's stark condemnation of the Russian government's "repression" of journalists to her calling reports of a possible Israeli ban on Qatari-based news outlet Al-Jazeera "concerning."
"How about if it's true, we condemn it?" Stewart said. "And by the way, is it true? Feels like you could probably just call someone and be like, 'Is this true?' And if they're like 'Yeah, it's true,' you could be like, 'That's concerning. Not condemning but concerning.'"
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Israel's legislature approved a law earlier this month providing the government with temporary power to prevent foreign news networks deemed a threat to national security from functioning in the country. After, Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi said news outlet Al Jazeera would be "closed in the coming days."
He later noted the high death toll of journalists amid the Israel-Hamas war. The Committee To Protect Journalists reported at least 95 journalists and media workers have been killed in the war, 90 of which were Palestinian. The number also includes two Israeli reporters and three Lebanese reporters.
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Stewart also compared the denunciation of taking of land by force, showing a clip of President Joe Biden saying America would "never waiver" from its commitment against the act.
Stewart acknowledged there may be a difference between Russia's war and the Israel-Hamas war, but noted a move last month that saw Israel advance plans to build more than 3,400 housing units in settlements in the occupied West Bank.
In a clip of Blinkin during a trip to Israel, he said: "Anyone taking steps that makes things more difficult, more challenging in this time, is something we have a problem with."
Despite the U.S. noting it opposed the move, Israel has said the project is moving forward.
"The verbal gymnastics that the American government must undertake so as not to offend the delicate sensibilities of a country we provide most of the weapons for is …" Stewart said, before an exasperated yelp. "Every time America tells the world that there's something we won't allow, Israel seems to say, 'challenge accepted.'"
Though Stewart said Israel and America should both know you can't "bomb your way to safety," he later addressed the sale of weapons to Israel.
"The subtext of all this is America knows this is wrong, but apparently doesn't seem to have the courage to say it in a straightforward manner," Stewart said.
Contributing: Staff and wire reports