Israeli international footballer Yossi Benayoun has called former teammate Joey Barton ‘stupid’ and ‘embarrassing’ over comments on the Gaza conflict.

Tweeting after a UN-run school was hit by an Israeli shell, Barton said: “This is not war. These are not combatants. They are just innocent children. This is ethnic cleansing”.

Benayoun, who played with Barton at London club Queens Park Rangers last season, responded: “You have been stupid and you will stay stupid all your life… embarrassing’.

On Wednesday, Benayoun was confronted by pro-Palestinian demonstrators while playing in Austria.

He and his Maccabi Haifa teammates were attacked by supporters who invaded the pitch during a friendly match with the French team Lille.