Once known for its journalistic integrity, the BBC’s failure to accurately label groups like Hamas and Hezbollah as terrorist organizations is not just a mistake, but a dangerous disservice to the British public. These groups, recognized by the UK government as terrorists, have committed atrocities against civilians and use the rhetoric of “resistance” to justify their actions.
Hamas explicitly calls for the destruction of Israel and has a history of violence, while Hezbollah, operating as a proxy for Iran, has launched attacks worldwide. The BBC’s reluctance to use proper terminology softens the image of these extremist groups and contributes to a normalization of violence.
By refusing to call terrorism by its name, the BBC undermines public safety and enables the spread of antisemitism and anti-Zionism. It is crucial for the BBC to uphold journalistic standards and accurately report on the true nature of these organizations to protect the British public from misinformation.
The time for tolerating these lapses is over. It is time for the BBC to step up and fulfill its responsibility to provide truthful and accurate information to the public.
The writer is executive director of We Believe In Israel.