Big Ideas One day, everyone will have always been against this — Omar El Akkad and Peter Greste reckon with Western hypocrisy over Israel's war on Gaza
Nov 13, 2025
Omar El Akkad, a talented journalist and author known for his gripping novels and frontline reporting, engages in a thought-provoking discussion about Western hypocrisy regarding the Gaza conflict. He critiques the disparity between liberal ideals and actions, challenging listeners to confront uncomfortable truths. El Akkad highlights the vital role of journalism in shaping narratives and the courage of Palestinian journalists often dismissed as biased. The conversation also navigates themes of hope, grassroots solidarity, and how cultural boycotts can serve as forms of resistance.
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Personal Complicity Creates Moral Urgency
- Omar El Akkad says he feels personally complicit because his taxes fund violence and that creates moral obligation.
- He wakes each day confronting the horror and the pressure to oppose it despite being labeled the bad guy.
Anger Meets Identity Risk
- Omar describes anger, grief and uncertainty at losing the identity that once allowed him to 'fit in' with Western power centers.
- He warns that becoming the 'angry brown guy' risks dismissal and caricature despite legitimate critique.
Code-Switching To Gain Belonging
- Omar recounts consulting an immigration lawyer who said sounding like 'one of us' matters more than papers.
- That taught him decades of code-switching to survive and be heard in Western spaces.
