Bill Maher Slams 'Idiots' Spreading Gaza Genocide Claims, Links to Antisemitism

American television host Bill Maher used his "New Rules" segment to criticize what he described as moral confusion in the West and the Democratic Party regarding terrorism, particularly in the context of the war in Gaza. Maher defended Israel's right to self-defense and directly attacked the notion that a genocide is occurring.

"This is not genocide. This is a counterattack in a war, a war that has been waged against Israel since 1948, based on the ridiculous premise that Jews don't belong in the only piece of land on Earth they've ever been indigenous to, and which is undoubtedly their ancestral homeland. Hey geniuses, they're the 'Native Americans' in this scenario," Maher stated. He specifically called out artists, including rapper Macklemore, for adopting the genocide narrative, saying, "I think Macklemore spoke for all the clueless celebrities when he said, 'I know enough to know that this is genocide.' Actually, you don't know shit."

Maher refuted claims of starvation in Gaza, presenting data on humanitarian aid facilitated by Israel. He noted that "94,000 trucks carrying over 1.8 million tons of aid" entered Gaza and that "over 36,000 patients were allowed to leave Gaza for treatment abroad." He argued that these actions are not typical of a country attempting genocide, especially against an enemy during wartime.

He insisted that labeling the situation in Gaza as genocide is "a lie that can be easily disproven" and that the definition of genocide cannot simply be altered to mean "a counterattack in a war where people, including civilians, die," as this applies to all wars. Maher concluded by linking the genocide narrative to the global rise in antisemitism, suggesting that if people believe genocide is occurring, they feel justified in hating those they accuse of it.