The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) has come under immense pressure for using the term fighter for members of Hamas, shows a report, days after the Palestinian resistance movement launched a massive attack on Israeli settlers and military forces.
A Tuesday report published by the Daily Express said that members of the British parliament as well as pro-Israeli media outlets and politicians in Britain have been criticizing the BBC for refusing to refer to Hamas members as “terrorists,” instead calling them “fighters” and “militants.”
It said critics believe the BBC should comply with a proscription issued by the British government which designates Hamas as a terrorist organization.
The report indicated that hard-line pro-Israeli politicians view BBC’s use of words fighter and militant as a way of giving legitimacy to Hamas while claiming that the practice is anti-Semitic.
The BBC rejected the claims in a statement given to the Daily Express and said that the channel has adhered to its Editorial Guidelines in reporting on the ongoing conflict in the occupied Palestinian territories.
The accusations come amid efforts in the West to portray Israel as victim of the bloody conflict in Palestine.
Israel has launched incessant bombing attacks on the Gaza Strip, where Hamas in based, since October 7 when the resistance group launched a blitz into the occupied territories.
Nearly 800 Palestinians, including women, children and elderly, have been killed and over 4,100 people injured in more than three days of Israeli attacks on Gaza.
Israeli regime officials have also ordered a total blockade of Gaza to compensate heavy losses suffered during the Hamas operation.
