Barack Obama says Israel has "ceded moral ground" over actions in Palestine during Belfast visit

Former US president Barack Obama has criticised Israel's actions in the Middle East, calling the conflict "a sort of madness."

He made the comments during a talk with journalist and writer Susan McKay at the O2 Arena in Belfast on Tuesday evening.

When asked about the conflict between Israel and Palestine, the former president acknowledged the history of both groups.

"The fact is that the Jewish people, for millennia, were oppressed, discriminated against, killed. Europe was responsible for much of it. They understandably sought a refuge.

"That is undeniable. What is also undeniable is that they took land off people and they were excessive. And those people understandably said, 'This is injustice and I want my land back.'"

However, he explained that due to changing attitudes in Israel since the beginning of the conflict, he believed that they are unwilling to make concesssions to end the violence.

"If the attitude of Israel is, now that we are the strongest, the most technologically advanced in the region, then our security will depend on us simply doing whatever we need and taking whatever we want, and not making any concessions to anyone.

"That may work short-term... but you have ceded moral ground if that is the position you take.

"I would say the current Israeli government appears to have taken that. It is incumbent on them to recognise that 7m Palestinians are not going anywhere."

Obama also shared his thoughts on Palestine reaching a solution with Israel.

"The Palestinians also have to recognise that precisely because Israel is strong, and they’re not going anywhere, that then requires a strategy that is not premised on beating their military.

"And Hamas, what they did on October 7, you could not have designed something that was less likely to produce meaningful change."

Barack Obama received an honorary doctorate from Queen's University Belfast on Tuesday. In his acceptance speech, he reflected on the impact of the Good Friday Agreement in Northern Ireland.

While recalling a visit to Belfast in 2013, he said that "The Good Friday Agreement is still a shining example of what can happen when people put aside old wounds and choose peace."

"But as we have seen in many countries, including in my home country the United States, peace and democracy are not inevitable. They have to be chosen, again and again."

Queen’s President and Vice-Chancellor Professor Sir Ian Greer spoke about Barack Obama receiving the University's highest honour.

"We are privileged to welcome President Obama to Queen’s. His commitment to peace, dialogue and public service has left a lasting impact around the world, and particularly here in Northern Ireland."

The conversation was part of his live interview tour, An Evening With President Barack Obama. He will visit Glasgow's Ovo Hydro today. His final tour stop will be at Manchester's Co-op Live on October 15.

His 2025 edition featured a sold out date in the 3Arena, which featured Obama in conversation with journalist Fintan O'Toole.