Holocaust survivor Gabor Maté breaks Israel-Palestine silence: 'I accept being canceled'

The celebrated Canadian physician told his 1.8 million followers on Instagram on October 18 that he would be addressing “the recent tragic events” soon, following his eastern European speaking trip.

Over the weekend his daughter Hannah, one of his three children, facilitated a conversation now available to stream on YouTube, where the two discussed the difficulty of having this conversation, the context that led to the conversation, and his advice as a Jewish physician who specializes in trauma on how to speak about the emotionally-charged situation.

The conversation came about three weeks after the Hamas terrorist attack in which militants killed approximately 1,400 Israelis and kidnapped over 200 hostages who were smuggled back to Gaza as bargaining chips on October 7.

Following one of the deadliest attacks in the country’s history, the Israeli government declared “war” on Hamas and put Gaza under a “complete siege,” sending hundreds of rockets which have killed over 8,000 Palestinians this far.

This was the first in-depth interview the Jewish Holocaust survivor – who has historically been critical of Israel – spoke about the latest developments, which is an “issue” that he starts off the conversation saying is “close to his heart and has been for decades.”

The Holocaust survivor said it's “a very difficult” and “emotional” conversation because it “brings up so much history, pain, and trauma,” which makes it hard "to engage with the rational part of our minds.”

He says that the October 7 attack was an “unjustifiable atrocity and tragedy” that was “historically reminiscent of other assaults that Jews have experienced throughout history.”

“From that point of view, the pain, the fear, the rage, and even the desire for revenge are totally understandable on the emotional side,” he says.

However, he says the issue is that in times like these when emotions are high it is “difficult” to see and acknowledge the “other side.”

He quotes from an Ha’artez article that Israeli journalist Amira Hass – who has been covering the daily atrocities committed in the West Bank for three decades – wrote following the attack: “In a few days Israelis went through what Palestinians have experienced as a matter of routine for decades, and are still experiencing - military incursions, death, cruelty, slain children, bodies piled up on the road, siege, fear, anxiety over loved ones, captivity and searing humiliation.”

He adds to her point: “History did not begin on October the 7th. If our intention is to move forward and create some basis for peace, we will have to be able to understand the experience of the ‘other.'"

To provide historical context, he mentions the Nakba in 1948 – Arabic for “catastrophe” – when 750,000 Palestinians were expelled from their historic land following Israel’s independence.

“Without going through the long history - I will only tell you that we have to ask ourselves: What fed such hatred, such desire for revenge, on the part of those people that broke out of Gaza?” he asks rhetorically, noting that Israeli sociologist Baruch Kimberling has called Gaza "the largest concentration camp in the world."

He adds: “None of this justifies it, again, but, I’m telling you, if you’re going to move forward on this, we have to be able to understand not just our own emotional reactions but also the emotions and circumstances that fuel the emotions of the other side.”

Gabor and Hannah also advised listeners to follow organizations including Jewish Voice for Peace, IfNotNow, and Independent Jewish Voices, as well as consider donating to Palestine Children’s Relief Fund and Dror Israel.

He also claims that a Canadian university recently canceled one of his talks on an unrelated subject because of his views on Israel-Palestine.

“I’m quite willing to accept that,” he responded. “That’s a part of the price you pay when you speak on this issue. You are canceled."

"This is not an issue I could ever be quiet about.”