Richard Madeley accused of ‘outright racism’ over Israel-Hamas conflict question

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Good Morning Britain viewers have demanded ITV sack Richard Madeley after asking a ‘vile and offensive’ question about the Israel-Hamas war.

The broadcaster, 67, sparked outrage again after asking British Palestinian MP Layla Moran on Tuesday’s GMB if she had been made aware of Hamas’ terror attacks on Israel before the fighting began on October 7.

Viewers on X, formerly known as Twitter, accused the former This Morning presenter of racism, with one writing: ‘This is no different from asking British Jews if they have any special warning about settlers attacking Palestinians. Outright racism from Richard Madeley.’

‘Absolutely disgusting from #GMB and Richard Madeley. He should apologize immediately and be pulled off the air. Solidarity with @LaylaMoran it’s a tough time to be Arab, even tougher to be Palestinian with the stereotypes being thrown about,’ another added.

Read the latest on our Israel-Hamas live blog

Calling for Madeley to be axed from the ITV programme, a third fumed: ‘DID RICHARD MADELEY JUST ASK A PALESTINIAN MP IF SHE KNEW ABOUT THE ATTACKS BEFORE IT HAPPENED?? Absolutely VILE and OFFENSIVE! He should apologise or be taken off #GMB.’

On GMB, Madeley had asked: ‘With your family connection in Gaza, did you have any indication of what was going to happen 10 days ago? Was there any word on the street about it?

The Liberal Democrat politician, who is the MP for Oxford West and Abingdon and condemned the attacks, replied: ‘Not this. Everyone has been surprised by the timing, sophistication [and] the way that it has happened.’

The ‘totally unbelievable’ question from Madeley comes just the day after he was slammed online for another question relating to the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict.

Turning to an assembled panel of fellow journalists, the host was heard saying: ‘I read in many of the Sunday papers yesterday parallels with the second world war – not just the holocaust – but with what the Allies, the Americans, the British, the free French did when they invaded Europe in 1944 and defeated the Nazis by going into Germany.

‘In doing so, by going into Germany, quite apart from the bombing campaigns that the RAF and the American Air Force launched, a lot of German civilians were killed.

‘Nobody at the time made any excuses or apologies for that but they just saw it as a necessary evil – is that a fair parallel?’

His co-host Susanna Reid, 52, quickly interjected with: ‘I think we’ve moved on, haven’t we, from those times?’

Fans online were quick to condemn the presenter for equating the two scenarios and branded Madeley’s comparison as ‘absurd’.

The Israel-Hamas conflict began 10 days ago when Hamas militants took dozens of hostages and attacked a music festival in southern Israel.

At least 1,400 people were killed, many of them civilians, and thousands more injured in Hamas’s attack.

More than 2,700 Palestinians have died as Israel launched air strikes on Gaza and cut off fuel, water, food and medical supplies from entering the cramped territory, which is home to more than two million people.

Absolutely disgusting from #GMB and Richard Madeley. He should apologize immediately and be pulled off the air. Solidarity with @LaylaMoran it’s a tough time to be Arab, even tougher to be Palestinian with the stereotypes being thrown about. https://t.co/N4mALsdKkT

— Leena Sarah Farhat ðŸ´ó §ó ¢ó ·ó ¬ó ³ó ¿ðŸ”¶ (@LeenaSFarhat) October 17, 2023

Richard Madeley showing with an ignorant, arrogant idiot he is not just on Israel-Palestine, but as a broadcaster lacking an iota of human decency. #GMB https://t.co/TUXv2z7WiX

— Gerry Hassan ðŸ‡ºðŸ‡¦ (@GerryHassan) October 17, 2023

DID RICHARD MADELEY JUST ASK A PALESTINIAN MP IF SHE KNEW ABOUT THE ATTACKS BEFORE IT HAPPENED??

Absolutely VILE and OFFENSIVE! He should apologise or be taken off #GMB

— S A ðŸ•Šï¸ (@SA85_786) October 17, 2023

This is no different from asking British Jews if they have any special warning about settlers attacking Palestinians. Outright racism from Richard Madeley. https://t.co/TmlhcmvsPF

— Ash Sarkar (@AyoCaesar) October 17, 2023

On Tuesday, it was reported that Yahel, 13, who was abducted by Hamas militants in Gaza, became the seventh confirmed casualty from the UK to have died in the conflict.

Prime minister Rishi Sunak confirmed there were a further 10 still missing.

Israeli air strikes continued early on Tuesday, even inside the evacuation zone where Israel had told residents to gather in advance of the expected ground assault on Gaza.

Metro.co.uk has contacted Madeley’s reps and ITV for comment.

Good Morning Britain airs weekdays from 6am on ITV.

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