Where this was said
Israel, Gaza, and a Debate About Genocide
At 40:00 · chapter starts 35:50
The conversation turns into the episode's most substantive and contested segment. Theo voices what he says many of his viewers believe: that Israel looks like a bully or even a terrorist organization given the scale of civilian casualties in Gaza. He reads from a UN independent commission report finding that Israel killed 20,000 Palestinian children and injured 44,000 more since October 7, and raises the case of journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, shot by Israeli forces at the Jenin refugee camp while wearing a press vest. Kennedy does not dismiss the civilian deaths but challenges the UN's objectivity, argues that Hamas physically hid behind Palestinian civilians and would kill those who refused to comply, and places primary responsibility on Iran — the financial backer of both Hamas and Hezbollah. He estimates Iran provides roughly 90% of Hamas's funding. The two also fact-check in real time claims that Israel may have historically funneled support through Qatar to groups that preceded Hamas, reaching a nuanced conclusion that the funding was likely intended to counterbalance secular Palestinian nationalists rather than support terrorism. [1] — Theo Von "Israel killed 20,000 children: A UN independent commission report cited during the episode found Israel has killed 20,000 children and inju…" 38:26 [2] — John Kennedy "Iran funds Hamas ~90%: Kennedy stated that approximately 90% of Hamas's financial support comes from Iran, without which neither Hamas nor …" 52:52
Hamas gets approximately 90% of its funding from Iran; Hezbollah is entirely Iranian-backed. Without Iran, neither terrorist organization could exist. Kennedy argues that the real problem in the Middle East has always been Iran's drive for regional dominance, not Israel's existence.
A UN independent commission report cited during the episode found Israel has killed 20,000 children and injured 44,000 more since October 7, 2023.
