Renowned Egyptian satirist and heart surgeon Bassem Youssef has responded with humor after being named by the Israeli Ministry of Diaspora Affairs as one of the world’s most influential anti-Zionist figures.
Leveraging the “black list” to promote his upcoming comedy shows, Youssef quipped about his ranking among prominent media personalities and activists. “Is my name on it? I’ve made it to the top ten again, but it’s an assassination list,” he joked. “Since I don’t have much time, come see me before I’m gone. Maybe I should call this the ‘Farewell Tour,’ but for now, let’s call it the ‘Belly of the Beast’ tour. Get your tickets before I’m taken out.”
Global tour schedule
Youssef shared his upcoming performance dates, noting that all shows will be in English:
United States: Dallas (May 1–3) and Houston (June 4–6).
Europe: Berlin (June 11), Vienna (June 12), London (June 14), Zagreb (June 16), Sarajevo (June 17 – Sold Out), Antwerp (June 21), and Paris (June 23).
Middle East: Istanbul (June 19).
Ministry of diaspora report
The list was published by the Israeli Ministry of Affairs and Diaspora, identifying ten figures based on their “reach and content impact” throughout 2025. According to the Hebrew channel i24news, the ministry categorized these individuals as the “ten most influential figures in the global anti-Semitic and anti-Zionist arena.”
The report stated that selections were based on the “severity of their actions and statements” and their significant influence against Israeli policies.
Prominent names included
The diverse list features a range of high-profile international figures, including Egyptian satirist Bassem Youssef, American commentator Tucker Carlson, and environmental activist Greta Thunberg. Other notable names identified by the ministry include political commentator Candace Owens, social media personality Dan Bilzerian, as well as Nick Fuentes and Anastasia Loupis, among several others.
According to the ministry’s assessment, Youssef was specifically targeted due to the global resonance of his statements, which the report characterized as “promoting misinformation and anti-Israel views.”
