While presenting at the Premier Trauma Therapy Conference in California, US, physician and trauma expert Dr Gabor Maté was asked by a member of the audience about the 7th October attack on Israel and how someone could have compassion for those involved in the attack. Dr Mate responded by stating that history did not begin on 7th October and drew a comparison between the treatment of indigenous Palestinians and that of indigenous communities in Canada and the United States. His comments received multiple rounds of applause from the audience. Later, Dr Mate apologised to the woman who asked the question for his "emotional reaction" in answering. He said, "The proper response to your question would have been: I understand where you're coming from, but this is not the place for me to address that issue."