This clip is from a Breaking Points interview done on June 26, 2023. It reflects my views on Israel and Palestine going back before October 7. Many saw a small clip out of context of the entirety of an interview I did about a week ago, and have now accused me of views I do not hold. Many use the word “siege” and “blockade” instead of “occupation” when it comes to Gaza, because the Israelis had left Gaza in 2005. That is what I was referring to in the now viral clip. I have spoken and written about the occupation of the West Bank, the illegality of the settlements, and the siege of Gaza for years. After the interview, I spoke to both Israelis and Arab friends who told me that the word “occupation” should still be used in reference to Gaza, and I immediately wrote a statement saying so. The mischaracterization on the part of many is purposeful and strategic. In fact, I have called for a ceasefire from the beginning of this horror. I criticized the very idea of military action before it even occurred. And my stand for Palestinian justice goes back many years.