The assertion of power rests primarily with dominant nations, specifically America and England, particularly post-World War II when the United States emerged as a superpower. The United Nations lacks the authority to enforce decisions, as real power is held by these countries. The historical shift in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict demonstrates a dramatic increase in the Palestinian population living in confined areas due to ongoing occupation. The argument surfaced regarding the rights of an occupying force; specifically, that an occupier like Israel cannot claim the right to self-defense against those it occupies because such an action is fundamentally unjust. This analogy extends to historical examples, highlighting the ethical ramifications of occupation and resistance. The day-to-day experience of Palestinians under occupation reveals a cycle of oppression, underscoring the complex narrative behind events such as those on October 7th.
The conflict in Gaza is heartbreaking, so we decided to have different perspectives on to help us learn more. For the Palestinian perspective we welcome Bassem Youssef.
Bassem Youssef is a comedian, author and political commentator from Egypt who now lives in the United States.
Bassem joins Theo to help us understand how Hamas came to be, that Palestine is being occupied, and to share his ideas for solution.