BBC refuses to call Hamas ‘terrorist’, protest outside London office

Protesters at the event, organized by Jewish groups, chanted “Hamas, terrorist” and “Shame on you” at the broadcaster for its editorial decision to refer to Hamas as an extremist or extremist group. Many waved Israeli flags and others held posters with pictures of Israeli children kidnapped by Hamas. Organizers the National Jewish Assembly wrote on Twitter that this is not the time for the BBC to call Hamas anything other than terrorists. Britain’s Defense Minister Grant Shapps also said last week that the BBC should follow the law and call Hamas a terrorist organization, with the government banning it in 2021.

But the BBC’s world affairs editor, veteran journalist John Simpson, said he would take sides if the corporation called Hamas terrorists. The BBC said in a statement on Monday that it had “carefully considered” its coverage of the conflict. All aspects of our coverage have been carefully considered to ensure we report on developments accurately and with appropriate objectivity.

The BBC, along with many other UK and global news organisations, uses the term ‘terrorist’ but gives attribution. We have made it clear to our audiences that Hamas is banned as a terrorist organization by the UK and other governments. Pro-Palestinian groups have also targeted the BBC, covering the Broadcasting House headquarters in red paint last week and accusing it of having “blood on its hands”.