Overview

• In a newly released episode of The Adam Friedland Show, the Jewish comedian and former Israel resident told Rep. Ritchie Torres that Israel’s conduct in Gaza is “a genocide,” voicing personal anguish over civilian suffering.
• Torres rejected that framing and insisted Israeli policy cannot justify antisemitism, disputing the claim that Israel’s intent is to murder civilians and reiterating his support for criticizing policy without targeting Jews.
• The conversation grew tense as Friedland pressed Torres on civilian deaths and aid access, Torres called the sit‑down a “gotcha interview,” and the meeting ended without a handshake after he walked out.
• Clips from the interview drew massive attention online, with supporters praising Friedland’s candor and critics faulting him for conflating Israeli policy debates with antisemitism or accepting disputed narratives.
• Coverage placed the back‑and‑forth in the context of Torres’ AIPAC‑backed record and the broader Israel–Gaza war, noting Oct. 7 casualties and Gaza death figures reported by AP via the Gaza Health Ministry, and Israel’s denial that its campaign constitutes genocide.