Gaza Part 1
When Jon Stewart sat across from Pulitzer Prize–winning Palestinian poet Mosab Abu Toha and listened to his account of Gaza’s devastation, something rare happened — he didn’t turn it into a political platform, a partisan scorecard, or a chance for another Trump roast.
Instead, Stewart gave America something it desperately needs: a window into the raw human cost of war, stripped of party colors.
For that, Jon — thank you.
Bipartisan History, One Long Chain of Policy
Over the last decade, both Republican and Democratic administrations have been working — in different styles, with different tools — to address Gaza’s crisis.
2015–2016 (Obama/Biden): Signed the Iran Nuclear Deal, easing sanctions in exchange for nuclear restrictions. Returned $400M in frozen Iranian funds (plus $1.3B interest later) as part of a legal settlement — the now-infamous “pallet of cash.” Critics tied it to Iran’s regional proxy support; the administration called it fulfilling an old debt.
2017–2020 (Trump): Withdrew from the nuclear deal, launched “maximum pressure” sanctions on Iran, cut U.S. aid to the Palestinian Authority and UNRWA, and brokered the Abraham Accords — opening unprecedented Arab–Israeli diplomatic channels.
2021–2024 (Biden): Restored some Palestinian aid, reengaged Palestinian leadership, and used Trump-era mediation lines with Egypt and Qatar to push for humanitarian pauses, hostage releases, and talks on governance changes in Gaza.
2025 (Trump’s Second Term): Now back in office, Trump is again using those Qatar–Egypt channels — this time to secure a ceasefire, free hostages, and explore demilitarization.
Trump’s Current Gaza Stance
Recent weeks have seen a notable moment:
In Scotland, meeting with U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Trump broke with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu’s claim that there is no starvation in Gaza.
He called the humanitarian crisis undeniable, citing the visual evidence of malnourished children.
He proposed U.S.–European cooperation to establish food centers in Gaza and pushed for more aid delivery.
Reports also confirm Trump confronted Netanyahu directly over downplaying Gaza’s hunger crisis.
While Trump’s past rhetoric on Gaza has been sharply critical of Hamas and Palestinian leadership, this moment marked a clear public acknowledgment of the civilian suffering and a willingness to address it.
The Neighbors Still Holding Back
While the U.S. (under both parties) has carried much of the diplomatic load, Gaza’s immediate neighbors remain reluctant:
Egypt fears militants crossing into Sinai and permanent refugee camps.
Saudi Arabia avoids direct refugee intake, focusing on economic modernization and Israel relations.
Qatar mediates but offers no large-scale resettlement.
The Human Lens Jon Stewart Offered
In today’s media climate, it’s almost impossible to separate human suffering from political warfare. Yet Stewart managed to do it. He didn’t exploit Abu Toha’s story to land partisan blows; he let the horror stand on its own.
As someone who’s covered events from a distance, I can tell you — reporting on atrocity changes you. The savagery, the disregard for human life — it forces you to reevaluate what matters.
I’ve written before about how easily Americans can turn on each other over words, protest signs, and political theater. People are called “Nazis” for exercising free speech. The Black Lives Matter movement fractured communities, sometimes irreparably.
Meanwhile, in Gaza, we see children starving, parents trapped, civilians dying — realities so far removed from the comfort and freedoms most Americans take for granted.
How many George Floyds are in Gaza right now? How many lives, if lived here, would spark mass protests, media saturation, and political urgency — but instead are reduced to casualty numbers in a conflict most of us only encounter in headlines?
Ledger Bottom Line
This isn’t about liking or hating Trump, Obama, Biden, or Stewart. It’s about recognizing that both parties have tried, and are still trying, to move the needle on Gaza. It’s about facing the fact that the U.S. cannot do it alone, and that regional neighbors have to step up if this cycle is ever going to end.
And it’s about taking a rare moment — like Jon Stewart’s interview — to strip away the partisan noise and just look at the human reality for what it is.
