On Wednesday, Mr Netanyahu’s office refused to comment on reports of Mr Levy’s removal. The spokesman last commented on the war on Tuesday.
Aid groups have repeatedly accused Israel in recent months of obstructing deliveries of aid, including refusing entry to truckloads of cargo, causing unreasonable delays, and creating bottlenecks by refusing to open additional crossings in the north of Gaza, which is worst affected by the conflict.
Israel’s closest Western allies, including Britain, have voiced increasing frustration over its refusal to act on the crisis, amid reports of children dying of starvation and as the UN warned of an “imminent famine”.
‘Dark humour’ about Israeli air strikes
It is not the first time Mr Levy has attracted controversy.
As fears of a war between Israel and the militant group Hezbollah grew in the weeks after the Hamas Oct 7 massacre, Mr Levy joked about a speech made by Hassan Nasrallah, the group’s leader.
He wrote on X, formerly Twitter: “Nasrallah’s speech is so boring. Serious question: was his speechwriter killed in recent IDF strikes on Hezbollah?”
He later defended the remarks as being “dark British humour”.
That month he was also criticised for calling pro-Palestinian protesters “rape apologists”. But Israeli officials have praised him for being an assertive voice for Israel who could confidently take on Israel’s critics with his fluent British English.
Mr Levy, who was born to Israeli parents in London, emigrated to Israel in 2014 at the age of 23 to volunteer in a short-lived military operation in Gaza.
He worked as a news anchor on Israeli television and briefly as an international media adviser to Isaac Herzog, the Israeli president, before joining the prime minister’s office after Oct 7.
Israeli media first started speculating about Mr Levy’s position when Channel 12 reported in January that Sara Netanyahu, the prime minister’s wife, was looking to get the spokesman fired for his past criticism of her husband, and for joining the protests against the controversial judicial reform he was advocating.
The prime minister’s office has denied any involvement by Mrs Netanyahu.
William Turner is a seasoned U.K. correspondent with a deep understanding of domestic affairs. With a passion for British politics and culture, he provides insightful analysis and comprehensive coverage of events within the United Kingdom.
