Gary Lineker - foot in mouth again

Why should he?

How about you apply to be his PA and dictate exactly what you think he should write in his tweets. Honestly you are being ridiculous

Umm no, but he could have added something along the lines of “it’s a very complex situation with a long and bloody history and a lot of pain on both sides”.

He expressed his feelings on what is happening in Gaza now.
Did you want him to have said " I find killing and starving innocent civilians appalling and I think Israel has the right to exist."?

I am sorry but I dont agree
Helpful to who?
GL or anybody else is under no obligation to say they think Israel has a right to exist in any context, let alone as a preface to saying the deaths of thousands of women and children is awful.
That doesn't mean they want to destroy Israel, it means they think the deaths are awful, that is all.

No I don’t think he should go into a long explanation of Middle East politics but a simple acknowledgement that say perhaps Israel has a right to exist would be helpful.

You genuinely don't think he can say something is awful without going into a long explanation of Middle East Politics first?

Nuance? I'm not sure nuance is required for what has happened since 7th October.

I think part of the problem is thinking that there is any justification in what has unfolded in Palestine. One dead baby would have been a horrific response to any violence, thousands is just too hard to comprehend. IDF have slaughtered civilians, many (most?) of whom were women and children, the sick and the elderly. There is no honour in that. There is no way to make it ok. Anyone from a football pundit to a postman can and SHOULD be saying it.

I’m not trying to silence anyone. I’m just interested in hearing informed opinion. He has a very high public profile and that comes with responsibilities.

I don’t understand how he is helping the situation by commenting without any nuance or demonstrating that he has an understanding of the conflict.

I don't need to understand what led to the genocide to be horrifed at it and I don't need to list all the other things that horrify me first and neither does Linekar.
Its just an effort to silence an opinion you find unpalatable

Actually it was out of courtesy to you that I didn’t mention your name, and simply pointed out that this could be called a purity spiral. Do you not agree?

@CurlewKate has he expressed horror at October 7 and the plight of the hostages? I haven’t seen this but may have missed it.

It’s not a “caveat” to acknowledge the crimes of Hamas, it’s central to understanding the whole hideous situation.

@Marjoriefrobisher but I thought you didn't know anything about him. And calling someone, whoever he is, expressing grief at the events in the Middle East "capering" is a little....distasteful.

@Hippyhippybake " has he expressed horror for the victims of October 7 and the hostages held in Gaza?"

Yes.Of course he has. As has everyone with an ounce of humanity. I wish this "you haven't expressed ENOUGH horror about October 7th-you can't therefore express horror about the civilians in Gaza." would stop.

I think it’s better to ignore the silly so and so personally. Like all people of his type the more attention he gets the more he’ll caper. Ignore him and he’ll go away, which can only improve the level of public discourse.

FFS, can he not be horrified at the deaths of women and children without a caveat?
Is nobody allowed to have sympathy with the ordinary people of Gaza unless they condemn Hamas first?

@Dulra has he expressed horror for the victims of October 7 and the hostages held in Gaza?

And he's right, it's fucking AWFUL the atrocities going on in Gaza don't know why you're trying to minimise it.

I've been looking for a transcript- here is the bit where he is supposed to have been dismissive of October 7th.



I would like to think that even the most Pro Israel people would consider images of dead Palestinian children "awful"
Whoever started it, whoever is at fault women and children are dying in their thousands in Palestine and anyone who doesnt see that as "awful" should be ashamed of themselves

I agree with him.

I pay the PM’s wages: doesn’t stop him spouting BS.

I can’t imagine expressing a public view on something like this without fully understanding it and being able to defend it.

He expressed his horror at the images he was seeing coming out of Gaza I don't think you need to be an expert in anything to express basic human emotions when you see something that upsets you. We can't be experts in everything and we shouldn't have to be to feel compassion for human suffering. I don't need to research an issue before I express compassion for someone suffering.

@Hippyhippybake "I can’t imagine expressing a public view on something like this without fully understanding it and being able to defend it"

It does sound as if you don't know what he actually said!

@EasternStandard "I do think if he’s keen to express opinions he’ll get public opinion in return and some will be pro some not"

Of course.