Four of Britain’s top lawyers have complained to Ofcom about the BBC’s refusal to label Hamas a ‘terrorist’ after its attacks on Israel.
The Corporation last night defended its decision not to describe Hamas militants as ‘terrorists’ in its coverage of the deadly attacks in Israel, despite receiving a major backlash from politicians and those within the Jewish community.
The broadcaster’s refusal continues despite King Charles condemning ‘barbaric acts of terrorism’ while the Prince and Princess of Wales spoke of their concern following the ‘Hamas terror attack’.
Instead, the BBC refers to Hamas as a ‘militant’ group and described the massacre of civilians as a ‘militant’ attack.
Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis accused broadcasters of trying to ‘deliberately mislead’ by not using the word terrorist, while Defense Secretary Grant Shapps called on the corporation to ‘get its moral compass out’ and Labor leader Keir Starmer asked the broadcaster to ‘explain’ the reasoning.
Lord Wolfson KC, Lord Pannick KC, Lord Grabiner KC and Jeremy Brier KC have now accused the BBC of being impartial ‘beyond doubt’ by describing Hamas in ‘more sympathetic terms’ as ‘militants’.
Four senior lawyers signed a letter calling on Ofcom to investigate. In a letter first seen by the Telegraph, they said: “On October 7, 2023, Hamas launched a major invasion of the State of Israel, which resulted in the massacre, rape and kidnapping of over a thousand Israeli citizens. There is nothing controversial about that. It is a fact.
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