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 A World Cup winning All Black, Williams traveled to the camp in
Lebanon's Bekaa Valley earlier this month with UNICEF to highlight
the plight of the 1.2 million refugees fleeing the conflict in
Syria.
"What did these children do to deserve this?," Williams tweeted late
on Tuesday with pictures showing the bodies of two young children
with horrific injuries. "This summer share a thought for the
innocent lives lost everyday in war."
The publication of the images drew a critical reaction from several
followers and local media.
"Sorry you (feel) the need to post pictures of dead bodies to
highlight your cause. Where's your respect?" one person responded.
"Wow that's heavy, but do spare a thought for your young followers
who will not understand this," said another.
Many comments, however, were supportive of Williams' decision to
post the images.
"I'm glad you posted this, you created discussion and I applaud you
for your humanity in visiting these victims."
A spokeswoman for UNICEF Australia said while she understood the
motivation of Williams to share the pictures, the organization did
not support the publication of such images.
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The powerful and talented Williams has been a divisive sporting
figure Down Under after switching clubs and codes and interspersing
his rugby with professional boxing fights.
He won wide praise during the Rugby World Cup in England this year
after first offering tickets to the semi final to Syrian refugees
and then giving his winner's medal away to a young fan who was
tackled by a security guard after the match.
(Reporting by Lincoln Feast; Editing by Richard Pullin)
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