Israel ‘genocide’ comedian to host Have I Got News For You

Comedian Guz Khan, best known for his BBC Three comedy Man Like Mobeen, as been booked to host BBC panel show Have I Got News for You, despite backing claims Israel of “ethnic cleansing” and “genocide” in Gaza.

Khan posted on his X account (formerly known as Twitter) after Israel’s response to October 7th Hamas terror attacks:”Ethnic cleansing of the Palestinians. The system is setup in the West so that Israel have total, utter impunity to commit these war crimes. How can they wield this level of power? It’s frightening. Just know, one day, it could be you.”

The 37-year-old Coventry-born comic has been chosen to take charge of this week’s version of Have I Got News for You, aired on BBC One on Friday, December 1.

According to The Times one BBC staffer is “lost for words” Khan has been booked to be on the show while the Gaza conflict continues.

On the day of the Hamas attacks, Khan retweeted Greece’s former finance minister Yanis Varoufakis, who wrote: “The path to ending the tragic loss of innocent lives – both Palestinian and Israeli – begins with one crucial first step: the end of the Israeli occupation and apartheid.”

He also retweeted a post which said “some of the greatest activists working tirelessly against Israeli ethnic cleansing, genocide and war crimes are Jewish.”

A BBC spokesperson said: “Hat Trick are a very experienced production company who have been making Have I Got News For You for 30 years. They know how to make the programme and it has always had people with a broad range of political views. Their job is to deliver a programme that fully complies with the BBC’s editorial standards.”