The Israeli ambassador to the UK has lamented the BBC’s failure to label Hamas as terrorists, accusing the broadcaster of “taking the wrong side”.
The BBC, funded by the licence fee, has been scrutinised for its decision in its coverage of the recent attacks in Israel.
Figures voicing opposition to the decision include Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who said last week “this is not a time for equivocation, we should call it out for what it is”.
The Government classifies Hamas as a ‘single terrorist organisation’, yet the BBC remains steadfast in its commitment to refer to it as a ‘militant’ group.
Tzipi Hotovely has criticised the BBC
PA / GB NEWS
Speaking on GB News, ambassador Tzipi Hotovely added her name to the host of those criticising the broadcaster, accusing it of “taking sides”.
“I think the BBC should think about whether it stands for its values”, she said.
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“Its values are accuracy and telling the truth. There is nothing more clear about what Hamas committed on October 7, it was a terror attack.
“All the world has never seen such a terror attack, filmed and broadcast.”
Probed by Farage over the BBC’s insistence on “not taking sides”, Hotovely said the broadcaster is doing so by not calling them terrorists.
She said: “By not calling them terrorists, they are taking a side, and you know what? Not the right side.
BBC's double standards exposed: Broadcaster describes 'terror attack' in Belgium... and then adds insult to injuryGETTY/BBC“If you want to stand with democratic values like Israel does when we are fighting a pure evil, this is a clear decision.
“It is not too late for the BBC, the BBC should call those terrorists in that name.”
A BBC spokesperson said: "We always take our use of language very seriously.
"Anyone watching or listening to our coverage will hear the word 'terrorist' used many times - we attribute it to those who are using it, for example, the UK Government.
Smoke rises following Israeli strikes in GazaReuters"This is an approach that has been used for decades, and is in line with that of other broadcasters.
"The BBC is an editorially independent broadcaster whose job is to explain precisely what is happening 'on the ground' so our audiences can make their own judgement."
Rishi Sunak could visit Israel as soon as Thursday as tensions continue to ramp up in the Middle East.
At least six Britons were killed in the Hamas attacks on October 7, with a further 10 missing – some feared dead.
More than 900 people have been brought back from Israel and all UK nationals registered with the Foreign Office and wanting to leave have been allocated seats, it is understood.
Any British citizens wanting to leave are being encouraged to book a flight before the portal closes at 10am UK time on Wednesday.
At least 1,400 people were killed, many of them civilians, and thousands more injured in Hamas’s attack.
At least 2,778 Palestinians have died as Israel launched air strikes on Gaza and cut off fuel, water, food and medical supplies from entering the cramped territory, which is home to more than two million people.