‘What a stupid question!’ Andrew Neil slams Layla Moran in spat over Isreal-Hamas war

A bombastic Andrew Neil exclaimed “what a stupid question to ask me” as he slammed Lib Dem MP Layla Moran when she sarcastically queried if he “was ok” with what was happening in the Israel-Hamas war.

Veteran broadcaster Mr Neil was responding to questions about the conflict saying that he thought with Hamas ruling the enclave it was an “impossible situation for people of goodwill in Gaza to show any political power at all”.

He had previously told the audience in Doncaster, South Yorks, how at the moment he didn’t see much hope in solving the current crisis.

However, Layla Moran, Lib Dem MP for Oxford West and Abingdon, who herself is of Palestinian heritage, threw her hands up and said: “Are you ok with what’s happening?”

Mr Neil, clearly annoyed by the implication, replied with equal sarcasm, “Oh, of course I’m ok, the killing is just wonderful” before adding “what a stupid question to ask me”.

Ms Moran exclaimed, “excuse me, how dare you”, before Mr Neil made it clear: “Of course I’m not ok with what’s happening, it’s horrific, it’s horrific.”

When asked by Ms Moran “what he was offering”, Mr Neil responded: “I am trying to point to the realpolitik (practical politics) of the situation.”

Presenter Fiona Bruce then brings the spat to a close as audience members try to intervene with more questions, but as the hour time limit is up Mr Bruce points out the show has to draw to a close.

Tonight the Israeli military said eight hostages had been released by Hamas in exchange for the release of more Palestinian prisoners under a last-minute deal to extend the cease-fire in Gaza by another day.

But any further renewal of the truce, now in its seventh day, could prove more daunting since Hamas is expected to set a higher price for many of the remaining hostages.

Hamas freed six of the hostages hours after releasing two Israeli women Thursday afternoon. All were handed over to the Red Cross in Gaza and were being brought to Israel to be taken to hospitals and be reunited with their families, the Israeli military said.