‘Israeli’ comedian sparks outrage with “activating pagers” in Ireland joke

• ‘Israeli’ comedian and social media personality Yevgeny Zarubinsky joked about “activating the pagers” he claimed were scattered in Ireland.
• The post followed ‘Israel's’ 3-0 defeat to Ireland in a Nations League match.

An ‘Israeli’ comedian has sparked an online uproar after joking about “activating the pagers” he claimed had been scattered across Ireland following Israel’s 3-0 defeat to the Republic of Ireland.

יאללה זה הזמן להפעיל את הביפרים שפיזרנו באירלנד

— יבגני זרובינסקי (@ivgiz) September 27, 2026

Yevgeny Zarubinsky made the post on social media after Sunday’s match in Debrecen, Hungary, writing in Hebrew: “Come on, it’s time to activate the pagers we scattered in Ireland.”

The comment appeared to reference the September 2024 pager explosions in Lebanon and Syria, in which thousands of communication devices exploded, killing and injuring people. ‘Israel’ was widely blamed for the operation and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu later acknowledged approving it.

The joke sparked outrage among commentators who linked it to ‘Israel’s’ declining likeability worldwide. 

American commentator Ana Kasparian quote-tweeted the comedian’s tweet saying, “Imagine being this overtly disgusting yet oblivious about why the world loathes you.”

Imagine being this overtly disgusting yet oblivious about why the world loathes you. pic.twitter.com/w5CrMnamSx

— Ana Kasparian (@AnaKasparian) September 28, 2026

Similarly, the social media account Palestine said, ““We lost in football. Kill them. Is actually normal Israeli thinking”.

Read more: ‘Israeli’ FA welcomes Ireland decision to play Nations League match