Israeli govt spokesperson suspended over social media row
Israel has suspended their English-language government spokesperson, Israel’s Channel 12 News reported on March 20.
It is understood that Israeli spin doctor Eylon Levy was given the boot for a fiery exchange on social media with British Foreign Secretary Lord David Cameron and another UK official. Many UK Foreign Office workers had also complained about Levy’s conduct.
On March 6, following a meeting with former Israeli premier and current member of the Knesset, Benny Gantz, Cameron wrote on X (formerly Twitter), “Meeting with Benny Gantz today. I made clear the steps Israel must take to increase aid into Gaza, and the deep concern about the prospect of a military offensive in Rafah. These are tough but necessary conversations.”
Cameron’s remarks sparked a furious response from Levy who quickly responded, “It is factually incorrect that the flow of aid has not increased. Last week we had a record 277 trucks. Over the past two weeks, there have been nearly 50% MORE food trucks entering compared with before the war. Israel’s crossings have excess capacity and if the UK wants more aid to enter Gaza, it should send it and we’ll make sure it gets in.”
In a now deleted X post addressing UK officials (notably the Foreign Secretary), Mr Levy said, “Test us. Send another 100 trucks a day to Kerem Shalom and we’ll get them in.”
The disgraced spokesman also got into a Twitter spat with Conservative MP and Chair of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee, Alicia Kearns.
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Seemingly unaware that the lawmaker had visited the Kerem Shalom Crossing (a common route used by trucks carrying goods from Israel or Egypt into Gaza) a few days prior, he said to her on March 8, “Hello Alicia. Israeli government spokesperson here. Are you aware the Kerem Shalom Crossing is currently closed on Saturdays at the request of the UN because there is so much undistributed aid piling up on the other side? The problem isn’t getting aid in, it’s getting it around.”
Kearns replied, “Thanks for your comments. Please provide evidence of the request by the UN to close on Saturdays, this is not what the UN told us yesterday nor is it recognised by aid agencies and Govts I’ve spoken to.”
Levy then angrily told the MP to get in contact with the Israeli unit “responsible for facilitating the transfer of humanitarian into Gaza”.
Over recent days, the United Nations, the World Health Organisation and the EU humanitarian chief Josep Borrell have all expressed concerns at the paltry amount of aid getting into the besieged enclave as well as highlighting the worsening famine-like conditions.
Mr Levy was born and raised in London and went to Oxford University, graduating in 2013 with a degree in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics.
He rose to prominence following the Hamas attacks on October 7, boasting a following of nearly 190,000 on X. He was appointed as the Israeli government spokesperson shortly after the start of Israel’s brutal war on Gaza.
The propagandist has received the attention of misinformation experts on social media who have stated that there are at least 500 of his posts on X that contained half-truths.
Mr Levy is yet to publicly comment regarding his suspension.
Channel 12/ Sky News/ BBC News
