Sonny Bill Williams has launched another extraordinary attack on Israel, claiming the Jewish state’s actions amount to “genocide.”
The ex-rugby union and league superstar, who is currently providing on-field commentary for Stan Sport during the Rugby World Cup in France, shared an excerpt from a Channel 4 News interview with Ezra Yachin, a 95-year-old reservist from Israel’s army. at X on Monday.
Mr Yachin claimed that Israel was not responsible for killing Palestinian women and children if Hamas used them as human shields.
An excerpt in the interview also showed him telling Israeli soldiers, “Erase them, their families, mother and children.”
Williams, who converted to Islam in 2009, told his 950,000 followers that “the propaganda machine behind which many of these cowards have hidden is slowly beginning to crumble.”
The ex-rugby union and rugby league superstar (pictured with his wife Alana), who is currently providing on-field commentary for Stan Sport during the Rugby World Cup in France, shared an excerpt from a Channel 4 News interview with Ezra Yachin, a 95-year-old Israeli army reservist on X/Twitter on Monday
Mr Yachin (pictured) claimed that Israel was not responsible for killing Palestinian women and children if Hamas used them as human shields – and also called on Israeli soldiers to ‘erase’ Palestinians
“It is our duty as a people to continue to educate ourselves on the plight of the Palestinians,” Williams wrote.
“It’s sad to see a coward who actually killed innocent people giving a speech of encouragement to do the same.
“But when you know that the majority of people he speaks to will fight behind the safety of closed doors by simply pushing buttons that kill innocents, it disgusts me.
“All atrocities throughout history have dehumanized the oppressed, so the oppression seems valid. Don’t be misled by the propaganda: this is not a war, this is a genocide.’
The vast majority of those who responded to Williams’ comments were supportive.
Williams’ post accusing Israel of genocide
A woman is helped to evacuate a Gaza City neighborhood hit by Israeli airstrikes
However, some wondered whether he had criticized Hamas, which had slaughtered and beheaded dozens of babies.
“Have you at any time condemned Hamas for their brutal atrocities?” one wrote.
Another asked sarcastically: “I was looking for your tweet condemning the cowards who murdered, tortured and burned 1,400 innocent people and kidnapped another 200?”
Reference is made to the Hamas terrorist attacks on October 7, in which armed men shot dead civilians in their homes, on the streets and at a music festival.
Williams has referred to the events of October 7 in recent days.
“Just as we must condemn the murders of innocent people on October 7, we must all condemn the murders and injustices of our oppressed Palestinian brothers and sisters that have occurred for the past 75 years,” he wrote on X on Saturday.
It is not the first time Williams has spoken out about the issue.
Shortly after the terrorist attacks, which have been described as “Israel’s September 11th,” he liked and shared a post saying that Hamas militants should be called freedom fighters instead of terrorists.
Williams, a devout Muslim, is no stranger to controversy and has liked and shared a post calling for Hamas terrorists to be recognized as freedom fighters
Israel has continued its relentless bombing campaign, with Hamas officials claiming dozens of people were killed overnight (Photo: Smoke rises after an Israeli airstrike in the Gaza Strip, seen from southern Israel on Monday)
He shared a message from American law professor, author and controversial columnist Khaled Beydoun that read: “So Ukrainian citizens who defend their families are ‘freedom fighters’… But Palestinians in Gaza who do the EXACT same thing are ‘terrorists’?”
Williams reposted the comment with the 100 emoji to emphasize his approval, and the palms up emoji to represent the prayer.
Williams, a devout Muslim, has sparked controversy in the past with a number of his tweets, including retweeting divisive social media star Andrew Tate.
His latest intervention comes as the Israeli military claims it is conducting more limited incursions into Gaza to attack Hamas.
The country has continued its relentless bombing campaign, with Hamas officials claiming dozens of people were killed overnight.
The Hamas-run Health Ministry in Gaza says more than 4,600 people have been killed since Israel began bombing the area in response to the terror attacks.