Multiple people called for the destruction of the state of Israel during an open debate with Daily Wire Editor Emeritus Ben Shapiro at the Oxford Union in the U.K. on Monday.
Shapiro visited the University of Oxford earlier this week to face questions from students about a wide range of topics, but the discussion principally focused on the war between Israel and Hamas. During Shapiro’s bouts with different students, several called for the abolition of the state of Israel, a position that Shapiro responded was “genocidal.”
The first student called for the destruction of Israel at the end of her questioning of Shapiro when the Daily Wire host asked her what part of Israel she considered “occupied,” or illegitimate.
“All of Israel,” she responded.
“There we go. So, what you’re calling for is the obliteration of the state of Israel, and all of this is just a cover for that. I appreciate your time,” Shapiro responded.
Less than 10 minutes later, another student at the podium took the same position after Shapiro asked the same question.
“The entirety of Palestine,” she said, adding “but I’m not calling for the destruction of Jews.”
“Thank you, once again,” Shapiro said. “I appreciate you expressing your full genocidal intent for the Jewish people living between the river and the sea.”
The student argued: “Why is it genocidal to call for a state that is not apartheid? You can have a state where all citizens have equal rights, Jews and Muslims. That’s not genocidal.”
Shapiro responded: “I’m sure that is going to go amazingly under the same people who are governing the Gaza Strip where currently zero Jews live.”
The last student to call for Israel’s destruction volunteered his position at the start of his time debating Shapiro on the history of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
“Ben, it’s an absolute displeasure,” the student opened, “I will get to my question, however.”
Shapiro responded: “Thank you for coming anyway.”
“My displeasure,” the student said. “Now, I’ll repeat the question that I sought to ask you. You have recently been discussing a lot about the history of the occupation of Palestine. I will call it that. I know you will oppose that, but I will call it that. The occupation of Palestine.”
After Shapiro asked what he meant by Palestine, the student clarified he meant “the entirety of Palestine.”
“You may accuse me of genocide if you wish. That is not my position,” the student said.
“Sure, and I will, but go ahead,” Shapiro responded.
The full Q-and-A with the audience can be viewed here.