The New Arab Staff
May 05, 2025
An Israeli TV producer has sparked outrage after calling for a ‘Holocaust’ in Gaza, drawing widespread condemnation for genocidal rhetoric.
A famous television producer in Israel has come under intense scrutiny following the uncovering of a series of inflammatory social media posts in which he called for a “Holocaust” against the people of Gaza.
Elad Barashi, who has worked in the Israeli entertainment industry for several years, sparked outrage after posting on X: “Good morning, let there be a Shoa (Holocaust) in Gaza.”
In another post, he wrote, “I can’t understand the people here in the State of Israel who don’t want to fill Gaza with gas showers… or train cars… and finish this story! Let there be a Holocaust in Gaza.”
“Who is the fool who says there are ‘innocents’ in Gaza? Who is the despicable scoundrel who wants to let them flee to Arab countries or Europe freely?”
The comments, originally written in Hebrew in February and widely circulated online, were met with immediate condemnation by human rights groups and Palestinian advocacy organisations. They described the remarks as openly genocidal and indicative of escalating dehumanisation in the rhetoric surrounding Israel’s war on Gaza.
Barashi’s posts appeared to advocate for actions directly referencing the methods used during the Nazi genocide of European Jews, including gas chambers and deportation trains.
The timing of the remarks amid a worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza due to Israel’s intensification of its war and blockade on Gaza further fuelled the backlash.
The controversial statements quickly drew the attention of international media, highlighting the gravity of Barashi’s language. Critics have called for an official response from Israeli broadcasting authorities and questioned the silence of major networks associated with the producer.
Barashi is mostly affiliated with Channel 14, a far-right television network widely seen as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s favoured platform for interviews and messaging.
There has been no public apology or statement from Barashi as of yet, and his X account remains active. However, calls are mounting for his removal from public broadcasting and legal action under Israeli incitement laws.
Meanwhile, social media users — including some from Israel — have denounced the comments as a stain on the country’s moral standing and an affront to the historical memory of the Holocaust itself.
The incident comes at a time of heightened tension and scrutiny over public discourse in Israel regarding Gaza, which has included what many consider “genocidal incitement” by media figures and politicians.
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