Eylon Levy Comes For Mehdi Hasan — Then Mehdi Fires Back With Brutal Questions About Gaza Eylon Levy: Tonight's debate is about whether Israel's actions in the war in Gaza are justified. We are fighting a Jihadist army that has as much respect for humanity and law as Mehdi Hasan has for the truth. Mehdi may say, "I condemn Hamas's acts on October 7th," but he won't condemn its strategy because he is part of that strategy. Hamas is counting on its defense attorney to shield it from the consequences of the war it started. Moderator: Eylon, I'm sorry, your time is up. You've already crossed one of the lines of the culture we try to establish here by calling your opponent a liar. Eylon Levy: I don't mind. It's fine. Moderator: Mehdi Hasan, answer the question: Are Israel's actions in the Gaza war justified? Mehdi Hasan: No. Obviously not. October 7th was a crime, a war crime. Taking hostages is a war crime, and those hostages should be released. But to destroy an entire place and an entire people in response is never justified. How are we still debating this more than 40,000 deaths later? Was Israel justified in dropping 500-, 1,000-, and 2,000-pound bombs on schools, hospitals, universities, mosques, churches, refugee camps and apartment buildings? Was Israel justified in bombing areas it had designated as safe zones? Was Israel justified in killing thousands of children in Gaza? Six-year-old Hind Rajab and her 15-year-old sister Layan were killed in their car, and two paramedics who went to rescue them were also killed. Was that justified too, Elon?