Late-night host Bill Maher is questioning the silence of pro-Palestinian protesters as Hamas continues its wave of violence in Gaza. The comedian criticized the absence of campus activists, who previously rallied against Israel, now quiet amid reports of Hamas turning weapons against Palestinians. Maher raised questions about the absence of these protesters during discussions about Hamas actions, drawing comparisons to past anti-Israel demonstrations that often included chants of anti-Israel slogans and clashes with police.
On Friday’s episode of ‘Real Time with Bill Maher,’ the comedian asked his guest, billionaire businessman Mark Cuban, where ‘keffiyeh-wearing college kids’ went now that Hamas is ‘shooting everybody.’ The HBO host noted that the protesters, who once rallied against Israel, have become silent. Cuban’s response echoed Maher’s sentiment, emphasizing the stark contrast between past activism and the current inaction.
His comments come after months of student-led anti-Israel demonstrations on campuses across the country. Protesters often chanted anti-Israel slogans and clashed with police, with hundreds of arrests taking place. Some critics said their support of Palestinians blurred the line between anti-war activism and open support for Hamas. Several students in the U.S. have been investigated for links to the terror group. President Donald Trump has repeatedly called for foreign students attending American universities to have their visas revoked if they’re found to support Hamas.
Now, as reports surface of Hamas turning its weapons on fellow Palestinians, Maher is questioning why those same protesters have gone silent. Footage has circulated online showing Hamas fighters allegedly executing Palestinians in Gaza City’s main square. Reuters reported that Hamas killed at least 33 people in recent days following the group’s truce with Israel to pause fighting in the region.
On Thursday, President Donald, Trump took to Truth Social to condemn the footage. He wrote, ‘If Hamas continues to kill people in Gaza, which was not the deal, we will have no choice but to go in and kill them.’ Maher went on to call out what he described as the ‘asymmetry of what goes on,’ blasting the silence from protesters who once held anti-Israel demonstrations. The host previously criticized America’s elite universities as ‘indoctrination factories,’ noting that they’d become anti-American.
The comments by Maher reflect a growing debate over the role of campus activism in the context of ongoing violence. Critics argue that the focus on anti-Israel demonstrations has overshadowed the human cost of the conflict for Palestinians within Gaza. Supporters of the protests, however, maintain that the actions of Hamas and Israel have been deeply unjust, and the lack of attention to the Palestinian perspective within the conflict continues to be a point of contention.