Green energy tycoon Dale Vince found himself in a heated exchange on BBC’s Question Time after accusing Israel of carrying out “genocide” in Gaza. An audience member angrily responded, comparing Vince’s words to the Holocaust and questioning whether the businessman understood the impact of Hamas’s 7 October attacks.
A Fiery Exchange
Vince, the founder of Ecotricity and chair of Forest Green Rovers FC, had initially been responding to a question about Donald Trump. However, he shifted the conversation to Israel’s “funding” of what he called the “genocide” of Palestinians—claiming 150,000 lives had been lost or permanently altered by the current conflict.
“How Dare You Say That!”
In reaction, an audience member stood up and said:
“Genocide happened to six million Jews in the Second World War… Did you mention the atrocity of 7 October when Hamas and the Palestinians invaded Israel and killed innocent women and children?”
He told Vince he was “ill-informed,” prompting applause from the crowd.
Vince’s Defence
Facing these accusations, Vince acknowledged the 1,500 Israeli deaths caused by Hamas’s 7 October attack. However, he insisted 150,000 Palestinians have been killed or injured since then, and that “90%” of Gaza’s population has been displaced.
“Is Israel Allowed to Defend Itself?”
The same audience member questioned whether Israel should have the right to secure its borders. Question Time host Fiona Bruce then stepped in, asking both sides to keep their remarks concise and respectful.
Closing Remarks
A former Tory minister also pushed back on Vince’s viewpoint, asking if he was “justifying rape or murder.” Vince firmly denied any such stance, but maintained that Palestinian civilians are effectively “captive in their own country.”
Host Fiona Bruce ended the segment by noting that the Israel-Palestine conflict had long been a recurring topic on Question Time.
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