Gary Lineker sparks fresh BBC row by sharing video accusing Israel of ‘textbook genocide’
Posted by  badge Boss on Nov 22, 2023 - 12:56PM
Gary Lineker has been criticised for sharing a video about the Israel-Hamas war (Picture: Alex Pantling/Getty Images)

star has behind a video accusing Israel of ‘textbook genocide’ in Gaza months after with his employer.

Back in March, the Match of Day presenter, 62, was temporarily taken off air after tweeting that the language used by the Government to promote its asylum plans was not dissimilar to that used in 1930s Germany.

Lineker by top on-air talent, including and , and the BBC launched an independent review of its guidance for freelancers.

However, his most recent post has led some people to claim they will now boycott the national broadcaster after taking issue with the clip he shared.

On Tuesday evening, Lineker re-shared an interview with Israeli associate professor of Holocaust and genocide studies at Stockton University in the US Raz Segal, who labelled as a ‘textbook genocide’.

In his post, Lineker urged people to watch, writing: ‘Worth 13 minutes of anyone’s time.’

In it, a professor accused Israel of undertaking ‘textbook genocide’ (Picture: Gary Lineker/ X)

In the video, Prof Segal criticises the IDF’s bombardment of the Gaza Strip in the wake of Hamas’ terror attacks on October 7, which saw more than 1,400 civilians in Israel massacred.

‘I do think that what we’re seeing in front of our eyes is a textbook case of genocide,’ he said.

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However, the post has sparked a huge response, with Jewish Chronicle editor Stephen Pollard accusing the ex-England star of ‘universe-bending ignorance’.

Conservative MP for Buckingham Greg Smith also said it was ‘inconceivable any right-minded person would give that video the time of day’.

Palestinians inspect the damage in Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip this week (Picture: Mohammad Ahmad / AFP)

Meanwhile some people said they were not going to support the BBC now.

‘BBC’s Lineker endorses video in which Israel is accused of “textbook genocide”. The taxpayer shouldn’t be forced to pay for this level of ignorance. Lineker needs to get down from his self-appointed pedestal,’ one person posted on X, formerly Twitter.

However, under the BBC’s new social media guidance, Lineker has not breached any rules.

Do Gary Lineker’s political views affect your support for the BBC?Comment Now

He had also previously already called for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, showing support for the pro-Palestinian protesters who held a demonstration in London on Armistice Day.

Sharing a post by now-sacked home secretary Suella Braverman, who labelled pro-Palestinian protestors as ‘hate marchers’, Lineker wrote on X: ‘Marching and calling for a ceasefire and peace so that more innocent children don’t get Ki**ed is not really the definition of a hate march.’

It was a comment made by Linker in response to Braverman that initially got him into hot water earlier this year after he likened language used by her to ‘Germany in the 30s’.

Some have said they will boycott the BBC after seeing Lineker’s post (Picture: EPA)

Following the backlash and boycott, the BBC , which allow Lineker and other freelancers who aren’t news reporters to share their political views on social media as they wish.

The broadcaster’s top stars are banned from political campaigning and criticising the character of individual politicians but are allowed to express their views on issues and policies.

Talent are also now banned from endorsing or slamming a political party while their programme is broadcasting and for a two-week period before the series starts and ends.

After they were revealed, Lineker labelled the new guidelines as ‘all very sensible’.

Metro.co.uk has contacted BBC and representatives for Gary Lineker for comment.