The BBC has come under criticism for its decision not to refer to Hamas militants as “terrorists” in its coverage of the recent attacks in Israel. UK Defence Secretary Grant Shapps described the policy as “verging on disgraceful.” However, the BBC has defended its position, stating that it is a long-standing practice for its reporters not to use the term unless attributing it to someone else.
Veteran BBC foreign correspondent John Simpson supported the decision, stating that calling someone a terrorist implies taking sides. On the other hand, Mr. Shapps argued that the BBC needs to locate its “moral compass” and called the decision “remarkable.”
The controversy arises from the fact that Hamas is a proscribed organisation in the UK, recognised as a terrorist group. Mr. Shapps emphasised that they are not freedom fighters or militants, but pure terrorists who have killed innocent people.
The BBC spokesperson explained that the broadcaster takes its use of language seriously and that the word “terrorist” is used in their coverage when attributed to those who use it, such as the UK Government. This approach has been followed for decades and is consistent with other broadcasters. The spokesperson further stated that the BBC’s role is to provide objective reporting so that audiences can form their own judgments.
The issue has gained attention from various UK politicians, including Foreign Secretary James Cleverly, Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer, and Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, who all believe the BBC should revise its policy. Sir Keir Starmer expressed his view that the BBC “needs to explain why it isn’t” using the term “terrorist.”
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ITN, which provides news for ITV, Channel 4, and Channel 5, allows their newsrooms to decide on a case-by-case basis. Sky News and ITV News websites mainly refer to Hamas militants or fighters, but ITV has also described them as terrorists.
The conflict between Israel and Gaza has been highly covered in the media since the weekend, with both sides suffering significant casualties. Israel has responded to Hamas attacks by launching air strikes on Gaza and imposing restrictions on essential supplies.
The BBC’s editorial guidelines state that using the word “terrorist” can hinder understanding rather than aid it. Instead, they suggest using specific terms like “bomber,” “attacker,” or “militant” to describe the perpetrators. The guidelines emphasise the importance of remaining objective and reporting in ways that allow audiences to form their own assessments.
The debate around the BBC’s decision highlights the challenges of language use in reporting sensitive and complex conflicts, where different parties have conflicting perspectives.
