Gary Lineker in new row after sharing post accusing Israel of ‘textbook genocide’

BBC presenter Gary Lineker is at the centre of renewed criticism after he endorsed a video in which an academic described Israel’s actions in Gaza as “textbook genocide”.

The Match of the Day host shared an interview conducted by Owen Jones with Raz Segal, an associate professor of Holocaust and genocide studies at Stockton University in New Jersey, who claimed that the Hamas attack on 7 October “was not a crime related to the Holocaust in any way”.

Speaking to Guardian columnist Jones, Segal also said: “We have both the intent and dynamics of violence on the ground [in Gaza], and because the intent is expressed so explicitly and so directly [by Israel] in such unashamed ways, and it’s continued to be expressed in this way, then I do think that what we’re seeing in front of our eyes is a textbook case of genocide.”

But sharing the interview with his 8.7 million followers onTwitter/X, Lineker, 62, wrote that it was “worth 13 minutes of anyone’s time”.

The presenter faced claims that he had failed to respond to the Hamas terrorist outrage in Israel on October 7th.

In response the Conservative MP Jonathan Gullis said: “Gary, any chance you can finally comment on the vile antisemitism that we’ve seen on the streets of the UK? Any condemnation of the scum who desecrated a war memorial with graffiti?

“Do you agree with your mate Owen that the British Empire is to blame for LGBT discrimination in Gaza, or do you point the finger at Hamas?

“Just asking as you are such a colossus on international relations and global conflict.”

Another X user wrote: “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.”

Lineker was previously embroiled in a debate over social media use in March. The host called out the then-home secretary Suella Braverman for her comments comparing migrant crossings to an “invasion” and claiming that the UK is being “overwhelmed”.