London: The BBC has come under attack for referring to Hamas personnel as fighters and militants, contrary to the label of terrorists designated by the UK and the US when reporting the recent escalation of violence following the surprise attack by Hamas.
Critics, including Lord Eric Pickles, the UK special envoy for post-holocaust issues, expressed their disbelief at the lack of balance and fairness in the BBC's coverage. He emphasized the severity of the situation, accusing Hamas of breaking into civilian homes and targeting children.
Stephen Pollard, the editor-at-large of the Jewish Chronicle, condemned the BBC's refusal to label Hamas fighters as terrorists. He argued that this reflects a deeper issue within much of the broadcast media, where the insistence on presenting two sides to every story hampers accurate reporting.
Pollard contended that the failure to recognize the clear distinction between a terrorist and a militant led to providing a platform for apologists of terror.
The attacks, launched by Hamas in the early hours of Saturday morning, marked the deadliest assault on Israel in 50 years since the Yom Kippur War. Israeli TV reports estimated the death toll between 500-600, with over 2,000 individuals wounded.