Podcaster Avi Lichtschein has said he confronted children's YouTube educator Ms Rachel, whose real name is Rachel Griffin Accurso, over comments accusing Israel of "genocide" in its war with Hamas, during a chance meeting at a neighbourhood park. Lichtschein recounted the exchange on the Sunday episode of his show "Depends on the Context," saying he challenged Accurso's claim that she was anti-Netanyahu and anti-Israeli-government rather than anti-Israel, and told her she was "spreading blood libel" that carried real-world consequences for Jewish communities. The episode highlights ongoing scrutiny of Accurso, who has a huge platform among parents and young children, over her public statements on the Israel-Gaza conflict.

According to Lichtschein, Accurso cited a figure of 20,000 child deaths as justification for calling the war a genocide, while he argued the term amounted to a specific accusation against Israel and Jewish people that could fuel hostility worldwide. She reportedly noted her husband's father is Jewish and described herself as a "Zionist," comparing her stance to that of former New York City Comptroller Brad Lander. Lichtschein later spoke with Accurso's husband, apologising for upsetting her but standing by his remarks, saying someone with her audience size bears responsibility for the downstream effects of her words. Fox News Digital said it had contacted Accurso for comment.