By Megha Rawat

Copyright timesnownews

Former US President Barack Obama was interrupted by an audience member shouting pro-Palestine slogans during a talk at the Jefferson Educational Society’s Global Summit. Speaking with journalist Steve Scully about the Israel–Palestine conflict, the 44th president paused as the disruption unfolded. He calmly responded, “Sir, I am not the President of the United States, currently. So, there is no point in shouting at me. I am not in charge of foreign policy, currently.” “Don’t shout at me!” he added. After a brief interruption, Barack Obama addressed the Israel-Palestine conflict. He said that its consequences stem from a broader mindset. He described it as part of a “zeo-sum game” where one group’s gain is seen as another’s loss. “When we don’t see people as people, bad things happen. When we dehumanise people, bad things happen. And America at our best stands for the idea that everybody counts and everybody’s equal under the law and has an inherent dignity and respect,” Barack Obama said. He further spoke about America’s global moral standing, “And that idea, that idea, when we lose that idea here – the whole world gets dimmer. And we are seeing it right now, Autocrats feel like, oh, we have got a license now, because America, they seem to be okay with it. In fact, they’re kind of doing some of the same things we are doing.” Barack Obama condemned both the Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, which killed civilians and Israel’s continuing offensive in Gaza that has caused tens of thousands of deaths. Urging empathy on all sides, he said, “Those who carried out October 7th believed those families were less than human and those now withholding food and medicine from millions are also dehumanising.” Obama’s remarks come as the humanitarian crisis in Gaza deepens. Local health authorities report over 65,000 Palestinian deaths since the conflict began. Meanwhile, a UN-mandated investigative commission this week accused Israel of “genocide,” alleging an intent to “destroy the Palestinian people.” The matter is expected to be a key focus at next week’s annual UN summit in New York. Get Latest News Live on Times Now along with Breaking News and Top Headlines from US News and around the World.