Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman rejected claims that Israel committed genocide in Gaza during an exchange with Jon Stewart. Stewart challenged the senator’s reasoning as Fetterman defended Israel’s conduct and characterized Palestinian deaths as collateral damage. The discussion drew attention after Fetterman also defended continued attacks against Hamas leaders.
The exchange appeared in a video shared online.
Stewart opened by asking why Israel should decide whether its actions amounted to genocide. Fetterman responded by questioning whether Israel had committed genocide at all.
When Stewart said those responsible for defining genocide had reached that conclusion, Fetterman rejected their assessment.
“By definition, that wasn’t a genocide,” he said.
Fetterman invoked the Jewish community’s experience of genocide while defending Israel’s actions. He argued Israel could have killed far more Palestinians if eliminating them were its goal.
Stewart challenged that reasoning, saying slower killing would not disprove genocide. Fetterman described the deaths as collateral damage from an urban war against Hamas.
He said Hamas held hostages and refused to disarm. During that response, Fetterman referred to the hostages as “our people.”
Stewart then cited roughly 1,200 Palestinians killed since the ceasefire. Fetterman said most of those killed were Hamas leaders tied to the October 7 attack.
He described targeting those responsible as “entirely appropriate.”
John Fetterman Faces Backlash After Rejecting Gaza Genocide Label
The exchange prompted sharply divided responses over Fetterman’s genocide argument and his description of those killed since the ceasefire.
One X user challenged his comparison with the Holocaust, writing, “Always deflecting to the poor Jewish people in Israel that could NEVER commit a genocide. Only Jewish people can experience genocide?? Are women and children Hamas?”
Another response argued, “What you get out of Fetterman is the same thing I got out of my congressional representative, bizarre unconditional support of Israel and their genocide. What becomes crystal clear is that these politicians don’t work for America or Americans, they work for Israel.”
A separate user wrote, “No matter how you slice it, @SenFettermanPA is supporting Israeli genocide against the Palestinians. This is shameful & truly heinous!” Another questioned his description of the casualties, asking, “how many people are part of this ‘hamas leadership’ in this guy’s delusional world? is the entire population hamas?”
Other responses defended Fetterman’s position. One stated, “Killing people in war is not genocide, it’s what war is… kind of like the definition of war actually.”
Another argued, “Listen to the clip, you’ll see Fetterman is saying it’s necessary to kill the HAMAS FIGHTERS, NOT ORDINARY PALESTINIANS.”
The exchange leaves unresolved whether Fetterman clearly separated Hamas targets from Palestinian civilians. The genocide designation remains central to the dispute.
