BBC Confirm Policy Change On Describing Hamas In Meeting With Jewish Leaders

DougHolland, 7 months ago

BBC being the only outlet to avoid using the loaded term ‘terrorist’ was solid journalism, so of course that had to go.

That said, Hamas certainly is a terrorist group by any sane definition, and so’s the Israel Defense Forces.

atx_aquarian, 7 months ago

Help me see if I’m missing something, but I don’t think they generally were avoiding using a loaded term.

I linked below a handful of examples of them describing, in their own words, acts as terror acts and even people and organizations as terrorists.

lemmy.world/comment/4719039

It seems to me like they’ve probably made sure to only use the term when a conviction or official designation has been made, but, as I understand from BBC’s own words, Hamas is already in that boat, too.

Reddit_Is_Trash, 7 months ago

Hamas kidnapped US citizens, tell me again how they aren’t a terrorist group?

Yawnder, 7 months ago

As long as they start calling Israel a terrorist state, that would be fair.

PugJesus, 7 months ago

It's really repulsive that a news organization trying to be factual and relatively neutral is badgered into changing its speech.

atx_aquarian, 7 months ago (edited 7 months ago)

I agree with the sentiment, but I don’t see the facts aligning with BBC’s claim of abstaining from using the label.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-60322508

The level was raised to severe … after two terror attacks late last year.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-55861305

At the High Court, listening to evidence about a notorious terrorist organisation, you don’t expect to hear about Legoland.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-58281243

A terror attack might have been stopped …

www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-57274312

Three men who assisted the perpetrators of jihadist terrorist attacks in and around Barcelona that killed 16 people in 2017 have been jailed in Spain.

www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/14854818

The attacks were carried out by the terrorist group al-Qaeda.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-33253598

It was the worst single terrorist atrocity on British soil.

www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/zy7nqhv/revision/9

Terrorists are people who use violent methods, or violent threats, to achieve their demands. (Followed by a list of terrorist organizations.)

DougHolland, 7 months ago

The Beeb is a big operation, with genuine humans reporting and editing 24/7/365. Things will always slip by. I appreciated the policy, is all.

TWeaK, 7 months ago

Pretty sure they’ve been calling them a proscribed terrorist organisation for a while now.

Also, is the Baord of Deputies of British Jews willing to admit Israel’s acts are war crimes, per the definition?

ladel, 7 months ago

deleted_by_author

billiam0202, 7 months ago

“We’re not calling them terrorists; we’re just saying others call them terrorists.”

TWeaK, 7 months ago

They were put under pressure because Israel pressures everyone to support them, usually with some form of threat.

TokenBoomer, 7 months ago

Wouldn’t threats from Israel also be terrorism?

WhatAmLemmy, 7 months ago

According to Israel, because of historic persecution, no jew can ever be racist, genocidal, nationalist, fascist, corrupt, a war criminal… or anything else that’s considered bad… and if evidence results in you believing otherwise, you’re an anti-semite!

mrpants, 7 months ago

Wow crazy to see 2014 Republican talking points recycled for whatever this is.

emax_gomax, 7 months ago

Well terrorism isn’t purely a threat, its actual violence with the goal of demotivating or convincing an enemy to submit to your demands. But I get your point.

TokenBoomer, 7 months ago

You are right.