Tucker Carlson Promotes Conspiracy Theory Blaming Israel for Oct. 7 Attack
Translated & summarized from Ynet by baba
Far-right broadcaster Tucker Carlson promoted a conspiracy theory on his show, suggesting the October 7th Hamas attacks were an Israeli "false flag" operation to keep Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in power. Carlson featured clips of the late activist Charlie Kirk questioning the delayed Israeli response, though Kirk had qualified his remarks. Carlson presented these speculations as accusations and offered no evidence of Netanyahu's prior knowledge. The broadcast also included Carlson's controversial statements about American casualties and the death toll in Gaza.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Tucker Carlson suggested the October 7th attacks were an Israeli "false flag" operation.
- Carlson claimed the attacks helped Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu remain in power.
- He featured clips of Charlie Kirk questioning the Israeli military's delayed response.
- Carlson presented Kirk's qualified speculations as accusations against Netanyahu.
- He alleged 190,000 to 200,000 Gazans have died, citing satellite imagery.
- Carlson also questioned the significance of American casualties in the attack.
Far-right American broadcaster Tucker Carlson aired a conspiracy theory suggesting the October 7th Hamas attacks were a "false flag" operation orchestrated by Israel to keep Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in power. In a special episode marking three years since the attack, Carlson, alongside commentator Dave Smith, presented segments featuring right-wing activist Charlie Kirk.
Carlson highlighted a clip where Kirk, who was murdered last year, questioned whether Israeli forces were ordered not to intervene during the initial assault. While Kirk himself stated he wasn't claiming Netanyahu allowed the attack to happen to remain in power, Carlson presented Kirk's remarks as an accusation against Hamas and Netanyahu. Kirk's original interview, from October 12, 2023, discussed Israel's security preparedness and the delayed response to some massacre sites, asking twice, "Was there an order not to intervene?"
Carlson asserted that Kirk did make such an accusation and agreed that the attack saved Netanyahu's government from a political crisis. However, the article notes Carlson presented no evidence that Netanyahu had prior knowledge of Hamas's plans or ordered forces to stand down, and that he was using speculations Kirk himself had qualified. Carlson also claimed Netanyahu and others had "hijacked" Kirk's memory, portraying him as a staunch supporter of Israel, despite Kirk's own nuanced statements.
Further, Carlson questioned the significance of American casualties on October 7th, claiming no American citizen died who didn't also hold Israeli citizenship, implying their deaths were less impactful. He also incorrectly stated that former hostage Idan Alexander was "not even technically American," despite Alexander growing up in the U.S. and holding American citizenship. Carlson criticized U.S. aid to Israel, called Netanyahu a "liar," and alleged, without evidence, that 190,000 to 200,000 people have died in Gaza, claiming this was evident from satellite imagery.
This is not Carlson's first controversial segment regarding Israel. He previously hosted white supremacist Nick Fuentes and interviewed U.S. Carlson also made an unsubstantiated claim about President Isaac Herzog visiting Jeffrey Epstein's island, for which he later apologized. Additionally, Carlson recently questioned the justification for fighting Nazi Germany in World War II.
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