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Following weeks of backlash the BBC will reportedly no longer refer to Hamas as “militants” opting instead to describe them as "a proscribed terrorist organisation" or simply "Hamas." This shift in policy by the public service broadcaster was announced by the Board of Deputies of British Jews in a press release on Friday, after the

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[-] TWeaK@lemm.ee 19 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year 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?

[-] DougHolland@lemmy.world 18 points 1 year 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@lemmy.world 3 points 1 year 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.

https://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.

[-] PugJesus@kbin.social 5 points 1 year ago

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

[-] atx_aquarian@lemmy.world 4 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

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

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

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

https://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.

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

A terror attack might have been stopped ...

https://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.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/14854818

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

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

It was the worst single terrorist atrocity on British soil.

https://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@lemmy.world -1 points 1 year 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.

[-] Reddit_Is_Trash@reddthat.com 0 points 1 year ago

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

this post was submitted on 21 Oct 2023
87 points (96.8% liked)

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