Jon Stewart Calls Out America’s ‘Verbal Gymnastics’ Toward War in Gaza: U.S. ‘Knows This Is Wrong’ but Lacks ‘Courage to Say It’

On the “The Daily Show,” Jon Stewart decided it was time for a “wellness check” on Gaza after the Israel-Hamas war reached the six-month mark Sunday.

“As the war has grinded on, justice is beginning to seem more like cruelty,” “The Daily Show” host said on Monday night. “But not to worry: America, the shining city on a hill, is on the case with our universal values.”

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Stewart then pointed out that America’s values are quite inconsistent, especially when comparing the government’s response to the war in Gaza versus the war in Ukraine.

In one clip, Secretary of State Antony Blinken called Russia’s weaponization of food in Ukraine “unconscionable.”

Stewart agreed with Blinken’s description, adding: “Speaking of which, there is a literal famine in Gaza caused by the war. I assume America will also consider this unconscionable.”

However, when asked about the situation in Gaza, national security communications advisor John Kirby only stated that America is “concerned.”

“Well you can’t spell unconscionable without concern,” Stewart said. “At least part of it — the ‘con’ part.”

Stewart shared several more examples of America’s response to the Russia-Ukraine war versus Israel-Hamas war, including attacks on the free press and taking another country’s territory by force.

“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 of Israel before letting out an exasperated sound. “Every time America tells the world that there’s something we won’t allow, Israel seems to say, ‘challenge accepted.'”

The Associated Press reports more than 30,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since the start of war — over 13,000 of them children.

Stewart added, “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.”

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