Egyptian Comedian Bassem Youssef Denies Hamas Atrocities of October 7

An Egyptian-American comedian with nearly 20 million social media followers has been touring major European cities including Berlin, despite widespread condemnation of his virulent anti-Jewish rhetoric and denial of the October 7 atrocities committed by Hamas.

Bassem Youssef, a former heart surgeon turned entertainer once dubbed the “Jon Stewart of the Arab world,” has been awarded the “Golden Watermelon” by Nius, a satirical negative prize for prominent antisemitism. The watermelon, due to its colors, has become a symbol of pro-Palestine solidarity and frequently represents hatred toward the Jewish state.

According to Nius, Youssef fled Egypt after satirizing President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and now holds U.S. citizenship. While appearing articulate and personable at first glance, his commentary on Israel reveals deeply troubling antisemitic views that reach his 19 million followers across Instagram, X, Facebook, and TikTok.

Denying October 7 Atrocities

Since October 7, 2023, Youssef has promoted conspiracy theories about the Hamas massacre. He has claimed Israel killed its own citizens that day through a distorted interpretation of the “Hannibal Directive,” an Israeli military doctrine designed to prevent hostage-taking. More disturbingly, he has denied the mass rapes and the murder and burning of babies during the terrorist attack.

When confronted with evidence of burned infants, Youssef dismissed it in shocking terms, suggesting anyone who saw such evidence must be on LSD or using very, very bad drugs, as reported by Nius.

Proud of Being Called an Antisemite

Rather than rejecting accusations of antisemitism, Youssef embraces them. He has stated publicly that he feels honored to be a finalist on lists of the world’s worst antisemites, adding that he cannot afford to lose that distinction. This brazen acceptance of the label has not deterred venues across Europe from hosting him.

Youssef recently performed at Berlin’s Tempodrom and has appeared in 16 other European cities including Hamburg, Munich, London, Paris, Vienna, Stockholm, Oslo, Copenhagen, Zurich, Brussels, Dublin, and Amsterdam. Ron Prosor, Israel’s Ambassador to Germany, told the Jewish press that a hate preacher like Youssef should not be given a platform in Germany, describing him as a court jester for Hamas. The warnings went unheeded.

Classic Antisemitic Tropes

Youssef’s rhetoric draws from the entire catalog of classical antisemitic stereotypes. He claims Israeli Jews exploit their status as the “chosen people” to steal land and kill others. He alleges Jews control the media, which he says are largely run by Jews, along with corporations and institutions.

In an interview with Piers Morgan, he called Israeli Defense Forces warnings to Palestinian civilians to avoid collateral damage “cute.” In another appearance, he mocked McDonald’s for providing free meals to Israelis, stating that nothing makes someone feel better after killing lots of Palestinian children than a Happy Meal. The blood libel trope of Jews as child murderers features prominently in his material.

Delegitimizing Israel’s Existence

Youssef has also promoted the false claim that Ashkenazi Jews are not “real” Semites and allegedly stole Yemeni children to “Semiticize” their gene pool. This narrative feeds into the antisemitic delegitimization of Israel as a European colonial project rather than the ancestral homeland of the Jewish people.

He frequently deploys the discredited argument that he cannot be antisemitic because he himself is a Semite. This reflects a fundamental misunderstanding of the term, which refers specifically to hatred of Jews, not speakers of Semitic languages. He also points to Jewish anti-Zionists who support him as proof he is not antisemitic, though this merely demonstrates the existence of fringe voices within the Jewish community.

No Mention of Hamas

Throughout his commentary on the conflict, Youssef conspicuously avoids condemning Hamas or acknowledging the terrorist organization’s role in initiating the October 7 massacre. His narrative consistently portrays Israel as the sole aggressor while absolving Palestinian militants of any responsibility for violence against civilians.

The fact that major European venues continue to host Youssef despite his well-documented record of antisemitic statements highlights the troubling normalization of anti-Jewish hatred in Western cultural spaces. His tours proceed without significant opposition from venue operators, despite protests from Jewish communities and Israeli diplomatic representatives.

With information from Nius