
Picture Credit: X
Australia opener Usman Khawaja has backed journalist Peter Lalor for supporting the people of Gaza stuck in the Israel-Palestine clash, going on since October 7, 2023. Lalor, who was previously associated with ‘The Australian’ as a cricket writer, got sacked by SEN Radio as a commentator. Lalor’s X feed included retweets in support of Gaza residents and release of Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails. These posts invited trouble for Lalor as SEN Radio opted to part ways with him amidst the Sri Lanka tour.
On the final morning of the opening Test in Galle, SEN Chief Executive Craig Hutchison informed Lalor that the latter’s services were no longer required. However, Khawaja showed support for Lalor through an Instagram story and wrote, supporting the residents of Gaza isn’t going against Jewish people residing in Australia but to condemn Israeli government’s antics.
“Standing up for the people of Gaza is not antisemitic nor does it have anything to do with my Jewish brothers and sisters in Australia, but everything to do with the Israeli government and their deplorable actions,” the southpaw wrote. He also added, “It has everything to do with justice and human rights. Unfortunately hatred towards the Jewish and Muslim community will always exist. Pete is a good guy with a good heart. He deserves better.”
Lalor releases details on his ouster
Lalor released a long statement on Monday night in which he revealed that he got a couple of calls from senior management at SEN Radio, on Day 3 of the opening Test between Sri Lanka and Australia, held in Galle. In the conversation, he was informed that he couldn’t be a part of the commentary team anymore.
“I was told in one call there were serious organisations making complaints; in another I was told that this was not the case,” Lalor wrote in his statement. “Perhaps I misunderstood. I was told there were accusations I was antisemitic which I strongly objected to. I was told my retweeting was not balanced, and insensitive to one side and that many people had complained," he continued.
“I was asked by station boss Craig Hutchison, who was civil, if I didn’t care that my retweeting of events in Gaza made Jewish people in Melbourne feel unsafe. I said I didn’t want anyone to feel unsafe. Of course, I care. I have friends who are frightened and have heard the fear in their voices during conversations. It is an awful situation. But so is Gaza. It was a brief and cordial call. The following day Hutchison told me that because the ‘sound of my voice made people feel unsafe’ and that people are ‘triggered by my voice’, I could not cover the cricket for them any more,” he concluded.