Dave Chappelle accuses Israel of committing genocide in Gaza in blistering stand-up at Abu Dhabi Comedy Week – and reveals the only reason he believes Jewish people support the war

Comedian Dave Chappelle accused Israel of genocide in Gaza during a stand-up show in the Middle East.

The comedian, 50, was performing in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, when he made the comments.

Chappelle, who is Muslim, told the crowd that he believes the Jewish people support Israel because of rising anti-Semitism.

He said the Gaza Strip is facing a “genocide,” and that making America’s Jews safer would make them realize they don’t need Israel as their ultimate protector.

According to a Middle Eastern outlet The national onehe told the sold-out crowd: “What is happening in Gaza is a direct result of anti-Semitism in the West.

“When you’re in America, the best thing you can do is make American Jews feel safe, feel loved and supported, so they know they don’t have to support a country that’s committing genocide just to feel safe.”

Before taking the stage, the crowd cheered as DJ Trauma, who accompanied Chappelle on the trip, played Palestinian singer Mohammed Assaf’s song “My Blood is Indonesian.”

The thousands there agreed to put their switched-off cellphones in sealed bags during the performance – a standard feature of Chappelle’s shows.

About halfway through, in an extended comedy set, Chappelle initially said his friends had told him he should or shouldn’t discuss the war.

From the audience, a woman shouted, “Free Palestine!”, causing the crowd to cheer.

One moment also showed how diverse the audience was in Abu Dhabi. When telling another joke about how Jews cheered while drinking, Chappelle said “l’chaim,” or “to life” in Hebrew, which another man shouted back from the audience.

When Chappelle addressed the upcoming US election, the mention of President Joe Biden – who has pledged “iron-strong” support for Israel – drew boos across the arena. Donald Trump drew scattered cheers.

Chappelle, like other performers during the performance, told some racy jokes and swore. But they largely avoided discussing local politics – although Chappelle did make a sly joke about the UAE’s widespread surveillance network and another lame comment about “how hard it is to be gay” in the country, since homosexuality is illegal.

Displaced Palestinians walk through a destroyed street in Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip on May 24, 2024

The injured are taken to Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital in Gaza City after the Israeli army attacked the Al-Nazla school building on May 25, 2024.

At the start of his performance, he also came on stage with a falcon on his arm – a symbol for the UAE.

Chappelle’s comments come as Abu Dhabi has maintained its diplomatic ties with Israel even as the country has increasingly criticized its behavior during the seven-month war.

Earlier this week, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) demanded the immediate release of all hostages still held by Palestinian militants.

Hours earlier, Israeli forces announced that troops had recovered the bodies of three more prisoners from northern Gaza.

The court had also ordered the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to halt their military operations in the city.

Israel gave no indication that it was preparing to change course in Rafah, insisting that the court had gotten it wrong and bombed Gaza on Friday evening.

The ICJ, whose orders are legally binding but have no direct enforcement mechanisms, also ordered Israel to keep open the Rafah crossing between Egypt and Gaza, which Israeli forces took over earlier this month, effectively closing it.

National Security Advisor Tzachi Hanegbi said in a joint statement with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs: “Israel has not and will not conduct military operations in the Rafah area that create living conditions predisposing to the destruction of the Palestinian civilian population, in whole or in part.” , could cause. part.’

About halfway through, in an extended comedy set, Chappelle initially said his friends had told him he should or shouldn’t discuss the war.

Hamas, the Iran-backed Islamist group that has ruled Gaza since 2007, welcomed the International Court of Justice ruling on Rafah but criticized the decision to exclude the rest of Palestinian territory from the order.

An Israeli official said on Saturday that the government had “the intention” to restart stalled negotiations “this week.”

Chappelle had previously sparked a walkout at a show in Boston last year after criticizing Israel for its “war crimes” against the Palestinians.

The comedian made these comments after telling the audience that he did not think students protesting in support of Palestine should lose job offers.

He further made it clear that he also condemned Hamas’ terrorist attack on October 7, but accused the Israeli government of killing innocent civilians.

At the end of the show at the TD Garden arena, he argued that two wrongs don’t make a right.

Some in the arena stood up and left, while others applauded and shouted, “Free Palestine.”