Obama slams 'Israeli 'policies, stands with Palestinian right to land

• Obama recognized the historical persecution of Jewish people while stating that early settlers "took land off people" 
• Obama urged an immediate end to violence, a halt to West Bank expansion, and aid to rebuild Gaza

Speaking during an appearance at Queen’s University Belfast and a subsequent discussion at the SSE Arena, former US President Barack Obama offered sharp criticisms of current ‘Israeli’ policy.

Addressing a crowd during a public conversation with journalist Susan McKay, Obama tackled the historical roots of the Middle East conflict. 

He stated that "the fact is that the Jewish people, for millennia, were oppressed, discriminated against, killed. Europe was responsible for much of it. They understandably sought a refuge." 

Obama added: "That is undeniable. What is also undeniable is that they took land off people, and they were excessive. And those people understandably said, 'This is injustice and I want my land back.'"

Turning to current events, Obama said that "if the attitude of Israel is, now that we are the strongest... our security will depend on us simply doing whatever we need and taking whatever we want, and not making any concessions... you have ceded moral ground if that is the position you take," adding that "the current Israeli government appears to have taken that."

Obama noted that "seven million Palestinians are not going anywhere" and urged ‘Israelis’ to consider how future generations will live. "Are you just going to be behind walls and wipe out everybody around you, or are you going to find some just way of defending yourself while still acting in an ethical, moral way?" he asked.

Obama condemned Hamas for the October 7 attacks and stated that Palestinians would have to recognize that they could not “outkill, outweaponise the Israelis,” and should pursue change through moral and ethical claims and nonviolent strategies, according to The Irish Times.

Detailing his immediate focus, Obama expressed hope for relieving humanitarian suffering in Gaza, halting ongoing settlement encroachments in the West Bank, and beginning reconstruction efforts.

He stated, however, that achieving these goals would require a level of creative diplomatic engagement from world powers, including the United States, that may not be immediately forthcoming.