BBC apologises for ‘misleading’ Hamas report after immense backlash

The BBC has issued an apology for a ‘misleading’ report about the pro-Palestine demonstrations that occurred over the weekend in London.

This comes amid conflict after the terrorist group Hamas launched a surprise attack into Israel last Saturday, killing 1300 civilians, which led to Israeli forces vowing to turn the Gaza Strip into ‘rubble’.

The country has launched retaliatory strikes in locations throughout Gaza, killing more than 2,000 people and injuring thousands more after Hamas troops breached the Gaza border and killed hundreds of people, taking many more hostage.

After the Israeli government ordered 1.1million civilians to evacuate the northern region of Gaza within hours, and suspended supplies of food, water and electricity and fuel to Palestinians, demonstrations took place across the country in support of Palestine.

However, BBC News referred to the demonstrations as backing the terrorist group Hamas, rather than Palestine, prompting widespread backlash.

During one news reporter, a BBC broadcaster said: ‘Rishi Sunak visited a Jewish school in London to underline his support for the community.

‘The visit followed several demonstrations across Britain during which people voiced their backing for Hamas, which many countries including the UK and US consider a terrorist organisation.’

A Pro-Palestine demonstration took place over the weekend (Picture: Thomas Krych/ZUMA Press Wire/Shutterstock)

BBC News referred to the demonstrations as backing the terrorist group Hamas, rather than Palestine (Picture: Akira Suemori/Shutterstock)

The viral clip sparked outrage, with one person saying: ‘BBC News. No words.’

Someone else called it ‘ludicrous’ while another wrote: ‘I’m genuinely blown away.’

‘Unbelievable??’ a fourth said, as another penned: ‘@BBCNews I haven’t seen any footage of demonstrations in the UK in support of Hamas, only of the Palestinian people in Gaza. It is wrong and harmful to imply that they are one and the same. Please do better.’

Someone else corrected: ‘What on earth? I saw thousands calling for peace, and end to the escalating loss of innocent life in Palestine. That is not supporting Hamas.’

The BBC has now issued an apology, with presenter Maryam Moshiri writing on X: ‘Earlier we reported on some of the pro-Palestinian demonstrations at the weekend.

‘We spoke about “several demonstrations across Britain during which people voiced their backing for Hamas”.

‘We accept this was poorly phrased and was a misleading description of the demonstrations.’

Her comments were echoed during a live broadcast on Tuesday night, in which the broadcaster echoed the same comments.

The BBC has issued an apology (Picture: BBC/X)

Viewers are still seething over the error though, with one writing: ‘This retraction needs to be repeated on air for the next few days ahead of every segment. One retraction is not enough.’

Another said: ‘It wasn’t “poorly phrased,” it was a lie.’

‘Not even a “Sorry, we were wrong”,’ someone else noted.

This comes after the BBC broadcasting house in London was vandalised over the weekend.

In scenes shared on X, the entrance to the building could be seen entirely covered in red paint splattered across the floor, numerous glass revolving doors and the walls either side.

Newsnight host Victoria Derbyshire took to X to share a clip, writing: ‘Just arrived at work. This is the front entrance to BBC this morning.’

Broadcaster and radio DJ Edward Adoo shared pictures of the situation earlier this morning, saying: ‘Just got to the BBC the main entrance is blocked someone sprayed red paint at the entrance.

‘Regardless of your view on what’s going on this is not the way. Props to the security team on duty tonight.’

A statement sent to Metro.co.uk at the time by the Metropolitan Police states: ‘We are aware of criminal damage to a building in Portland Place, W1A.

‘At this stage there is no suggestion this is linked to any protest group.’

A Pro-Palestinian group later claimed responsibility for the vandalism, with Palestine Action accusing the BBC of having ‘blood on its hands’.

Palestine Action posted on X: ‘Palestine Action left a message overnight for the @BBC: spreading the occupation’s lies and manufacturing consent for israel’s war crimes means that you have Palestinian blood on your hands’.

In a further statement, the group accused the BBC of being complicit in ‘manufacturing consent for the occupation’s genocide of Palestinians’.

It accused the BBC of only ever inviting Palestinians to comment when Israelis are killed, with little regard for Palestinians killed by Israel.

The building’s entrance was covered in paint (Picture: @vicderbyshire)

Palestine Action claimed responsibility for the vandalism (Picture: PA)

A spokesperson for Palestine Action said: ‘We at Palestine Action cannot stand by and let Western media justify and manufacture consent for genocide through racist, callous coverage.’

The incident came after the BBC has faced over its refusal to brand Hamas ‘terrorists’ during coverage, which has sparked backlash from the public and the likes of Piers Morgan and Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer after defending its avoidance in labelling Hamas a terrorist organisation.

The broadcaster later responded after it received complaints from people ‘unhappy’ they hadn’t used the word terrorist when referring to Hamas.

‘Our coverage of the unprecedented assault on Israel by Hamas has made clear the nature of the atrocities committed and the impact this has had on civilians,’ the statement began.

‘Across our reporting we have explained that Hamas is proscribed as a terrorist organisation by many Western governments, including the UK. 

‘We have reflected the response from the international community to Hamas’ actions, and featured contributors who have described them as terrorists.’

It continued: ‘We have given careful consideration to all aspects of our reporting of the Israel-Gaza conflict, both in terms of Hamas’ attacks and Israel’s response – this includes the language that we use.

The likes of Piers Morgan have called out the BBC’s decision (Picture: PA)

‘The BBC is editorially independent; our role is to explain precisely what is happening so that the public can make their own judgements. Our longstanding position, including during previous conflicts between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, has been that we do not use the term “terrorist” without attribution, in line with the BBC’s Editorial Guidelines.’

In the BBC guidelines, it states reporting of possible acts of terror ‘should be timely and responsible, bearing in mind our requirement for due accuracy and impartiality’.

It also states the word terrorist can itself ‘be a barrier rather than an aid to understanding’.

This prompted a Jewish BBC reporter to resign, and branded the BBC’s decision as ‘unjustifiable’.

Noah Abrahams, 22, worked on BBC Radio Derby, and wrote on X on Thursday: ‘A personal announcement from me: I will no longer work for or represent the BBC.

‘No more games this season. No more input.’

During an appearance on TalkTV, Noah explained: ‘I have morals and I stick by them.

‘I think the words justified and unjustified have been thrown around a lot since the weekend and I think the BBC’s refusal to use the correct terminology is unjustified. 

‘Words quite literally are fundamental to the English language, they impact how we think, how we react, how we act. They have influence.

‘The phrase freedom fighter distracts from the reality of terrorism, to those easily influenced it implies what is not.

‘[Hamas] aren’t freedom fighters or, as [BBC World Affairs editor] John Simpson refers to them, gunmen. They’re terrorists. 

‘There are probably people watching who think I’ve thrown it all away for some words, but terminology, words – when neglected – have the power to fuel hate and the power put fuel on the fire.

‘As a Jewish person, believe me, there is already enough fuel on that fire.’

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Viewers seethed over the ‘ludicrous’ comments.