Humphrey Cobbold said the UK should support the Israeli government 'in general' (Image: BBC)

       Thousands of Brits are threatening to "boycott" PureGym, the UK's most popular gym brand, after its CEO said Britain should "support" the Israeli government "in being able to defend themselves".

       Speaking on BBC Question Time last night, Humphrey Cobbold told the audience in Stoke-on-Trent: "I think we should support, in general, the Israeli government in being able to defend themselves."

       by Taboola by Taboola

       Sponsored Link Sponsored Link

       Promoted Links Promoted Links

       Dog Food Exposed

       Vet Begs Owners: Never Feed These 3 Ingredients To Your DogDog Food Exposed Learn More

       Undo

       His remarks have been met with scorn from pro-Palestine supporters, who have been circulating "#BoycottPureGym" on X, formerly Twitter.

       Almost ten thousand people have used the hashtag, including Dilly Hussain, the controversial deputy editor of the UK Islamic news website 5Pillars. His post on X has been viewed more than 112,000 times and the post by 5Pillars on the same platform is just shy of half a million views.

       Powered By

       00:00/00:35

       10

       10

       The Chase: Contestant calls herself a 'fleegan'

       Share

       Next

       Stay

       READ MORE Fiona Bruce hits out at Labour MP in Diane Abbott row on BBC Question Time

       The PureGym CEO was speaking in Stoke-on-Trent on Question Time (Image: BBC)

       Speaking on Question Time last night, the boss of PureGym, which has more than one million UK members, said: "Ten times the number of people sitting in this room tonight now were murdered on the October 7 [attacks] in cold blood.

       Sponsored

       LifeHackGuru

       LifeHackGuruAlways Keep a Bread Clip in Your Wallet, Here's Why

       Undo

       by Taboola by Taboola

       "Double the number of people sitting in this room were taken into Gaza as hostages and the number of people in this room as we sit here today are still held as hostages - and that's the precursor to what's happening there today."

       The 59-year-old Kenya-born Cambridge graduate went on to express his concern about the IDF's operations in Gaza. He added: "And I'm deeply concerned about what is happening in Gaza, what we see on our screens every night, and the risks around Rafah."

       Despite conceding it would be "sensible" for the US to stop sending the IDF "big bombs", Mr Cobbold was keen to press home that "Hamas is a proscribed terrorist organisation that has insisted on deciding to eradicate Jews and eradicate Israel."

       Don't miss...

       BBC Question time row erupts as Labour MP blasts leftie who snubs party [POLITICS]

       BBC Question Time audience member fumes at Tory defector in 'betrayal' rant [POLITICS]

       Fiona Bruce shocked after asking audience raise hand if they back Tory defector [POLITICS]

       “We should support… the Israeli government in being able to defend themselves.”

       On BBC Question Time last night the CEO of PureGym, Humphrey Cobbold, blamed Hamas for starting the current conflict and said the UK should still supply defensive weapons to Israel. pic.twitter.com/e7r9XqnnKu

       — 5Pillars (@5Pillarsuk) May 10, 2024

       SUBSCRIBE Invalid email

       We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our Privacy Policy

       Trending

       Following his appearance on the BBC debate show, thousands of X users vowed to cancel their memberships with PureGym.

       5Pillars editor Roshan M Salih wrote: "Anyone with a Pure Gym membership, you know what to do. #BoycottPureGym".

       Another said: "A slight inconvenience having to find a new gym after two years but well worth it if it means not supporting a company like this @PureGym #BoycottPureGym".

       While a third sniped: "I’m cancelling my pure gym membership after seeing this. Don’t need to go to a gym owned by a Zionist ally! The reality is clear all over the news and from on the ground social media accounts. Anyone who speaks otherwise is just part of the genocidal cult".

       DON'T MISS

       Powered by

       Pro-Gaza Green Party councillor who shouted ‘Allahu Akbar' investigated over comments

       1749 Comments

       Iran 'willing to put every Arab life on the line' as it scrambles to crush Israel

       107 Comments

       Obama sent a grave warning about Biden in 2020 - now his greatest fear has come true

       355 Comments

       GMB's Adil Ray sparks fury as viewers accuse him of 'bias' in tense Gaza war interview

       88 Comments

       UCLA erupts into violence as masked counter protesters storm encampment

       17 Comments

       Rishi Sunak blasts 'outrageous' pro-Palestine protests at Eurovision Song Contest

       401 Comments

       Rocket barrage injures 10 in Israel as top official urges fresh Gaza invasion

       233 Comments

       POLL: Should Israel accept the ceasefire deal with Hamas? Have your say

       140 Comments

       Israel-Hamas LIVE: IDF launches attack on Hamas despite ceasefire rumours

       349 Comments

       Pro-Gaza Green Party councillor who shouted ‘Allahu Akbar' investigated over comments

       1749 Comments

       Iran 'willing to put every Arab life on the line' as it scrambles to crush Israel

       107 Comments

       Obama sent a grave warning about Biden in 2020 - now his greatest fear has come true

       355 Comments

       GMB's Adil Ray sparks fury as viewers accuse him of 'bias' in tense Gaza war interview

       88 Comments

       UCLA erupts into violence as masked counter protesters storm encampment

       17 Comments

       Rishi Sunak blasts 'outrageous' pro-Palestine protests at Eurovision Song Contest

       401 Comments

       Rocket barrage injures 10 in Israel as top official urges fresh Gaza invasion

       233 Comments

       POLL: Should Israel accept the ceasefire deal with Hamas? Have your say

       140 Comments

       Israel-Hamas LIVE: IDF launches attack on Hamas despite ceasefire rumours

       349 Comments

       Pro-Gaza Green Party councillor who shouted ‘Allahu Akbar' investigated over comments

       1749 Comments

       Iran 'willing to put every Arab life on the line' as it scrambles to crush Israel

       107 Comments

       Despite the backlash, some X users sought to attack those up in arms over Mr Cobbold's remarks. One user quipped: "I wonder how many folk tweeting #BoycottPureGym actually go to PureGym?"

       Another joked: "99 percent of the people sing the #BoycottPureGym trend have never been to a gym their idea of exercise is getting up to get another pack of biscuits".

       Express.co.uk has approached PureGym for comment.

       Related articles Single-sex toilet becoming compulsory in offices, bars and restaurants Nigel Farage drops huge election hint - and Rishi Sunak will be happy Innocuous beach pastime could see Britons fined ￡1,000 Obama sent a grave warning about Biden – now his greatest fear has come true Assisted dying could be legal in UK within five years, says Sir David Davis