WATCH: John Oliver Pushes Back on ‘Bloodthirsty Rhetoric’ in Stunning Cold Open on Israel-Hamas War

HBO host John Oliver tore into “bloodthirsty rhetoric” on all sides and pleaded for peace in a stunning cold open addressing the Israel-Hamas war.

Comedy shows have long had to grapple with how to handle gutting tragedies like the coordinated terrorist assault on Israel last week that brought with it indescribable horrors that are still unfolding and retaliation by Israel that has killed — and continues to kill — Palestinian civilians trapped in Gaza.

On Sunday night’s edition of HBO’s Last Week Tonight, Oliver — as NBC’s Saturday Night Live did, as well — departed from format to comment on the situation during a cold open that mixed humor with sobering commentary:

Hey there. It’s me. The show hasn’t started yet. I mean, clearly, it started a little bit. I’m already talking to you. But before the music and the lights and, at least theoretically, the laughter, I wanted to briefly talk to you about what has clearly been a terrible week.

The immense suffering in Israel, in Gaza has been sickening to watch, and we’re not going to be covering it in the main body of our show tonight for a couple of reasons.

First, it’s horrific. I really don’t want to tell jokes about carnage right now. And I’m pretty sure that you don’t want to hear them.

And second, with taping this on Saturday afternoon and you’ll be watching it Sunday night or Monday morning through an illegal VPN. I do know who I am talking to. But the point is, given how fast things are moving, a lot could change between the time I’m saying this and the time that you hear it.

But I do have a few broad thoughts that I think will still apply, and they have to do with sorrow, fear, and anger.

And sorrow is the first and most overwhelming feeling. The images that we’ve seen this week from last Saturday onwards have been totally heartbreaking. Thousands are now dead in Israel and Gaza. It has been devastating not just to those in the region, but to diaspora communities across the world. Whatever thoughts you have about the history of this region or the current state of affairs, and I’ve shared mine on this show in the past, it should be impossible to see grieving families and not be moved. So there’s been sorrow this week, a lot of it.

And also fear, understandable fear of further attacks in Israel and, for those taken hostage, and fear of what is to come in Gaza, as Israel’s leaders seem intent on embarking on a relentless bombing campaign, mass displacement and a potential ground invasion. I don’t know where things stand in Gaza as you watch this right now, but all signs seem to be pointing toward a humanitarian catastrophe.

Israeli officials announced plans to cut off food, water, fuel and power. Hospitals are running on generators. This has all the appearances of collective punishment, which is a war crime.

I think many Israelis and Palestinians are feeling justifiable anger right now, not just at Hamas, whose utterly heinous terrorist acts set this week’s events in motion, but also at these zealots and extremists across the board who’ve consistently thwarted attempts at peace over the years. Israelis and Palestinians have been let down by their leadership time and time again. And I don’t have a great deal of faith in the leaders currently in charge to steer us toward peace. But I do still have some hope because the easiest thing to do in the world after a week like this is to engage in bloodthirsty rhetoric. And there there’s certainly been plenty of that from those in power. But I will say I’ve been struck by the many ordinary citizens, both Israeli and Palestinian, who’ve called for restraint this week and not revenge. Just listen to how Noy Katsman, whose brother Hayim was murdered by Hamas last Saturday, chose to end this interview.

(VIDEO CLIP).

Right. People want and are entitled to peace. And I’m not going to tell either side how to get it, certainly not in this accent, which is frankly done enough damage in that particular region to last a fucking lifetime.

But just know in the long term all the people who want to live in that region are going to keep living there. So peace is not optional and will require some tough decisions. And I can’t say where a peace process ends, but it just has to start with that kind of ability to recognize our common humanity.

That’s honestly all I’ve got for you right now. But we do still have our regular comedy show. And if you’re interested, I’ll see you on the other side of our opening titles. When there Will be Lights, there’ll be music. And again, purely theoretically, no pressure on this audience, at least some sporadic laughter. And now this.

Watch above via HBO’s Last Week Tonight.