The BBC has chosen not to refer to Hamas as a ‘terrorist organisation’ despite UK Foreign Minister David Cameron’s request to do so. The public broadcaster stated it will only use the term ‘terrorist’ when quoting official sources to maintain objectivity in reporting. This decision comes after Hamas confirmed the death of a British-Israeli man held hostage in Gaza. Cameron criticized Hamas’s actions and urged the BBC to reconsider their stance on labeling the group as terrorists.
Despite the UK government designating Hamas as a ‘terrorist organisation,’ the BBC continues to resist using that terminology in their reporting. Veteran journalist John Simpson warned against the pressure to label certain groups as terrorists, emphasizing the BBC’s role in impartial news coverage. The conflict in Gaza, triggered by Hamas attacks on Israel, has resulted in thousands of casualties. Hamas, a controversial political party, won an election in 2006 but faced opposition from Western countries.