LONDON: Ex-England footballer and BBC sports presenter Gary Lineker has drawn support and criticism after retweeting a video showing Palestinian boys and teens being dragged away and caged by Israeli soldiers.
Lineker commented on his retweet just one word: “Sickening.”
The video was originally posted to Twitter by Ben White, an author, researcher and activist, who wrote on his tweet about the video: “Israeli soldiers in Hebron bravely defend themselves from a number of existential threats disguised as defenseless Palestinian children.”
Lineker’s retweet drew a mix of comments, with @LTCPeterLerner (Lt. Col. Peter Lerner, former spokesperson for the Israel Defense Forces) telling Lineker: “Sorry, Gary, you’ve completely missed the point. When kids throw stones they are a public menace. They need to be stopped. Yes, the video is unpleasant but it conveniently shares only a glimpse of what happened, the aftermath of their actions. You should be wiser than this. #Fail”
Lineker fired back a short missive: “They should be stuffed into a small cage? You should be wiser. #fail“
Lerner replied: “No, they should be in school. Oh but their leadership closed the schools so they would go on a wild rampage in the streets. That is what is sickening. What would you do?”
Lineker then quickly retorted: “Treat them like humans. Bye.”
But that wasn’t the end — the exchange between celebrity and Twitterati continued as Lineker replied almost a dozen times, defending his video post for around three hours after it was first posted.
Lineker’s retweeted video via Ben White was of footage originally posted to YouTube by B’Tselem, the Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories. The organization states that it tries “to educate the Israeli public and policymakers about human rights violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territories; combat the phenomenon of denial prevalent among the Israeli public; and help to create a human rights culture in Israel.”
B’Tselem’s video has been watched just 2,743 times (at the time of going to press) on YouTube, where it is titled, “Hebron routine: minors arrested in city center after clashes with soldiers.”
The video features an explanation as to why Israeli soldiers were making arrests in Hebron, stating that Palestinian youths threw stones at them on Oct. 13, 2017, after which the Israeli army caged 18 “young men.”
The shorter Twitter version, which has been viewed more than 731,000 times, edits out this information.
Lineker’s retweet has been liked over 12,000 times and retweeted itself more than 9,000 times. Comments under Lineker’s retweet are party anti-Israel, partly pro-Israel, but many focus on the age of the boys being arrested by the Israeli army. One Twitter user, @tones1971, commented: “They weren’t just arrested. They were stuffed in cages. That’s child abuse.”
A request for comment via Lineker’s Twitter feed went unanswered.
BBC star Gary Lineker strongly defends tweet about Israeli army arrests
BBC star Gary Lineker strongly defends tweet about Israeli army arrests
Shahid, Disney+ and OSN+ launch exclusive streaming bundle across GCC
- Bundle available exclusively visa Shahid for $25 a month
RIYADH: In a landmark regional collaboration, Shahid, Disney+, and OSN+ have announced an exclusive streaming bundle that brings together world-class hits from the three platforms under a single subscription in a first-of-its-kind offer for audiences in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries.
The all-in-one entertainment package, available only through Shahid in the GCC for about $25 a month, grants subscribers full access to three leading platforms covering Hollywood blockbusters, Disney+’s expansive range of beloved films, animations and series, OSN+’s library of HBO originals and international hits, and Shahid’s Arabic premium content.
The bundle is designed to simplify subscription management with a unified payment model, allowing viewers to access all three apps at the price of two and offering a streamlined user experience.
Natasha Matos-Hemingway, chief commercial and marketing officer at Shahid, said the partnership reflects a broader effort to expand digital entertainment offerings in the Middle East, catering to a growing audience seeking diversity, convenience and high-quality programming.
“We are proud to collaborate with OSN+ and Disney+ to offer an unmatched streaming experience to our subscribers,” she said. “With one subscription, one payment, and full access to premium content from all three platforms, we’re delivering unbeatable convenience, value and entertainment.”
With a growing demand for high-quality on-demand content, the bundle is expected to attract a wide range of users seeking comprehensive entertainment without juggling multiple subscriptions.
The move also signals increasing cooperation between global media giants and regional platforms, in a bid to meet the entertainment preferences of Arab audiences while expanding market reach.
Karl Holmes, SVP and general manager at Disney+ EMEA, said the collaboration will bring award-winning series like FX’s “Shogun” and favorites such as “Lilo & Stitch” into a unique bundle with Shahid’s regional hits including “Al Dariya.”
The agreement “reflects a shared ambition between Disney+ and Shahid to shape the future of entertainment in the Middle East,” said Holmes. “The Middle East is young, dynamic and fast-growing, and we’re delighted to give consumers a new and easy way to access extraordinary content at exceptional value.”
Choucri Khairallah, chief business officer at OSN+, said the partnership takes OSN+’s entertainment experience “to the next level.”
He added: “Today’s audiences expect more than great content; they seek seamless access, variety and exceptional value. This all-in-one bundle delivers exactly that.”
