UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron has called on the BBC to finally label Hamas a terrorist organization, accusing the broadcaster of downplaying the group's atrocities.
UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron has launched a scathing attack on the BBC, accusing the broadcaster of failing to label Hamas a terrorist organization despite its litany of horrific crimes.
In an interview with BBC anchor Laura Kuenssberg, Cameron expressed his outrage at the network's reluctance to use the term "terrorist" when referring to Hamas, a Palestinian group responsible for numerous acts of violence against civilians.
"Maybe it's a moment, actually, for the BBC to ask itself again, should we describe these people as terrorists?" Cameron said, speaking out live on the government-tied outlet.
Cameron went on to list Hamas' numerous crimes, including the kidnapping of grandmothers and babies, rape, and the shooting of children in front of their parents.
"If you do these things, what more do they need to do for the BBC to say, ‘Look, these are terrorists?’" Cameron asked. "They are terrorists."
Cameron's comments come amid growing criticism of the BBC's coverage of the Israel-Hamas conflict. In January, the media organization was forced to apologize after airing an unverified radio report that accused Israel Defense Forces troops of executing Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.
The BBC has defended its coverage, stating that it does not use the word "terrorist" when referring to Hamas unless it is attributed to others, such as the UK Government.
However, critics argue that the BBC's policy is a form of appeasement that downplays the severity of Hamas' actions. They point out that Hamas is designated as a terrorist organization by the United States, the European Union, and many other countries.
The BBC's reluctance to label Hamas a terrorist organization has also been criticized by some within the media industry. In a recent article, The Daily Telegraph's Tim Stanley accused the BBC of "moral cowardice" for failing to use the term.
"The BBC's refusal to call Hamas a terrorist organization is a disgrace," Stanley wrote. "It is a betrayal of the victims of Hamas' violence and a whitewashing of the group's ideology."
The controversy over the BBC's coverage of Hamas is likely to continue in the coming weeks and months. Cameron's comments have added fuel to the fire, and it remains to be seen whether the broadcaster will reconsider its policy on labeling the group as terrorists.
