LONDON: Fox News correspondent Geraldo Rivera clashed with pro-Israeli host Sean Hannity on Wednesday over Israel’s attacks on Gaza.
Rivera is a 77-year-old correspondent and commentator who has previously reported from Israeli-occupied territories. Talking to Hannity, he declared that Rashida Tlaib — the only Palestinian-American member of the US Congress and a frequent Fox target — was right to say that the US should halt its $735 million arms shipment to Israel.
Hannity repeatedly cut Rivera off as he tried to make a point about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with the host taking a staunchly pro-Israel stance while Rivera said it was "abhorrent" that Palestinian children died in bombings from Israeli Defense Forces retaliating against Hamas.
Fox News contributor Dan Bongino stepped in after Hannity, and the row intensified, with both Hannity and Bongino insulting Rivera, calling him an “uncontrolled lunatic” and a “punk.”
Pressure mounting on #Israel to institute #Ceasefire. American bombs should not be used to kill defenseless civilians in #Gaza. @JoeBiden must stop ignoring carnage & injustice. A dead Palestinian child is as much a crime against humanity as a dead Israeli child. #NotWithOurBombs
— Geraldo Rivera (@GeraldoRivera) May 20, 2021
Rivera took to Twitter to echo his on-air comments. “American bombs should not be used to kill defenseless civilians in #Gaza,” he wrote. “@JoeBiden must stop ignoring carnage & injustice. A dead Palestinian child is as much a crime against humanity as a dead Israeli child. #NotWithOurBombs.”
In the past, Rivera has had heated arguments with other Fox News personalities when criticizing Israel’s actions and lauding those defending Palestinians — both rare stances for a contributor to the traditionally pro-Israel channel to take.
Rivera was asked by Fox News anchor Martha MacCallum if he was “sympathetic” to Tlaib’s position.
“I am indeed, Martha,” he replied. “People have to recognize what the Gaza Strip is. It’s one of the most menacing places on Earth that I’ve ever reported from.”
He also told viewers that, by selling arms to Israel, America is “complicit in an ongoing crime against humanity.”
