Pro-‘Israel’ lawyers in UK file complaint against Love Island contestant over pro-Palestine posts

“UK Lawyers for Israel” organization has urged British broadcaster ITV to review the participation of Love Island Season 13 contestant Jasmine Gaziza Müller over her past pro-Palestine social media posts, claiming some material denies ‘Israel’s’ existence and could foster hostility toward its supporters.

The group wrote to ITV chief executive Dame Carolyn McCall after examining dozens of screenshots from Müller’s public Instagram account, posted or reshared roughly between May 2021 and February 2024.

The posts include a graphic stating “EDUCATE THE YOUNGER GENERATION. TELL THEM ITS CALLED PALESTINE NOT ISRAEL,” descriptions of ‘Israel’ as a “colonial project” and “the entity,” references to it as a “sh*t ‘country’” that is “UNLAWFUL in EVERYTHING that it does,” a sign reading “NO WAY I AM SPENDING ETERNITY IN HELL WITH THE PRO-ISRAELERS!!!,” and imagery showing maps that erase ‘Israel’ by presenting the whole territory as Palestine.

UKLFI claimed it does not object to advocacy for Palestinian rights, ceasefire calls or criticism of ‘Israeli’ policies.

“This is not about preventing legitimate advocacy for Palestinians or criticism of an Israeli government. It concerns posts that erase Israel altogether and express hostility towards people simply because they support it,” a spokesperson for the organization claimed.

“ITV must urgently assess the implications for other contestants and for its young viewers.”

Müller, 27, was born in Dubai, has lived partly in London and is of Iranian (and mixed) heritage.

She has been publicly supportive of Palestinian rights since at least 2020, posting calls for a “free Palestine,” criticism of US support for ‘Israel’, photos from pro-Palestine demonstrations and images of herself in a keffiyeh.

ITV passed the complaint to producers Lifted Entertainment, which responded that the programme complies with legal and regulatory requirements, including Ofcom codes.

“Ms Müller’s views, while strong and subject to debate, represent her personal exercise of freedom of speech and have been expressed independently of the program,” the producers wrote.

“Both Lifted Entertainment and ITV do not and would never accept or condone any form of discrimination or racism… We are confident that there is no indication of any kind of risk to the welfare, wellbeing and dignity of the participants in the program.”

UKLFI rejected the reply as inadequate, arguing that selecting and promoting a contestant with such material amplifies it without meaningful assessment and that treating the posts merely as “strong” political views fails to address denial of ‘Israel’s’ legitimacy, hostility toward “pro-Israelers” and imagery of erasure.

The episode fits a pattern of UKLFI complaints against broadcasters and institutions over pro-Palestine content.

Love Island remains one of ITV’s major entertainment draws, typically drawing one to three million viewers an episode.