Leading barristers have accused the BBC of colluding with Hamas by refusing to label it a terrorist organisation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The firm is under increasing scrutiny for instructing its journalists to refer to the Palestinians responsible for the atrocity in Israel as militants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nick Robinson, the show’s host, defended the broadcaster for following “long-standing practise.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, Lord Wolfson KC, Lord Pannick KC, Lord Grabiner KC, and Jeremy Brier KC have written to broadcasting regulator Ofcom, requesting that it investigate the judgement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They claimed that the BBC had taken sides by using “more sympathetic terms” to describe Hamas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOn 7th October 2023, Hamas launched a large invasion of the State of Israel which resulted variously in the slaughter, rape and abduction of over a thousand Israeli citizens,\u201d the letter states.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThere is nothing controversial about that. It is a fact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe\u00a0BBC\u00a0has fallen well below the standards expressed in its Editorial Values in reporting of that invasion and the consequences therefrom.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The lawyers said by \u201cwatering down\u201d descriptions of Hamas, which is classed by law as a terror group, it is failing to be impartial.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt necessarily involves the\u00a0BBC\u00a0\u2018stepping into the arena\u2019 and taking sides so as to describe Hamas in more sympathetic terms,\u201d the letter adds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Robinson, a Today programme broadcaster on BBC Radio 4, said the language regulations are common practise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“No one watching the reporting of my BBC colleagues in Israel can deny the horror of what has happened,” he stated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“I completely see why some people want the word ‘terrorism’ to be used. However, the BBC, ITV, and Sky have long reported others using that language rather than employing it themselves.”<\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Leading barristers have accused the BBC of colluding with Hamas by refusing to label it a terrorist organisation. The firm is under increasing scrutiny for instructing its journalists to refer … <\/p>\n