GB News presenter Patrick Christys took the BBC’s former Head of Religious and Ethical Programming Aaqil Ahmed to task over the broadcaster’s decision not to use the term “terrorist” when referring to Hamas.
The BBC have often used the term “militants” to describe attackers from Hamas, despite the UK Government proscribing them a terrorist group.
Speaking on GB News, Ahmed told Christys that the broadcaster has a responsibility to uphold impartiality after they revealed they are standing by their decision.
Christys questioned Ahmed on incidents that have been reported from Israel, such as the “rape of innocent women and the slaughter of elderly”, and whether they can be classed as terrorist acts.
Aaqil Ahmed and Patrick Christys were embroiled in a fiery debate
GB NEWS
Ahmed said: “It’s alleged terrorism. We can’t see it. I’m not a defender of Hamas but the language you use, you have to be careful because these things are happening in real time.”
“I am not going to take lectures from you on reporting on videos that we can see happening that are verifiably true”, Christys snapped back.
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Ahmed admitted that verifiable Hamas atrocities are “terrorist acts”, to which Christys asked: “Should our state broadcaster not say that then?”
“All broadcasters have a decision to what they want to do”, Ahmed responded.
“It is bigger than one particular event and you have to be impartial when you decide to cover something.”
Asked whether it appears as though the BBC are “taking sides” with their decision not to term Hamas “terrorists”, Ahmed said he “doesn’t think so”.
The BBC is under fresh pressure
PA“I don’t think you can say that any UK broadcaster is taking sides”, he said.
“We have a good ecology in the country. Sometimes things are said that I don’t like.
“I used to work on the basis that if everyone has a problem with you, you’re doing something right.
“We have a very difficult, polarising and understandably a situation I wish wasn’t happening.”
The pair clashed on GB News
GB NEWS
The BBC’s decision not to describe Hamas as “terrorists” has drawn criticism from the likes of Defence Secretary Grant Shapps, who said it is “verging on disgraceful”.
He told LBC the BBC needs to find its “moral compass”.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has also called on the BBC to “explain” why it isn’t using the term.
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.
"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."
It comes after Rishi Sunak warned the public that Hamas supporters in the UK will be held to account.
He reminded the public that Hamas, which rules the Gaza Strip and facilitated a deadly attack on Israel at the weekend, is a “proscribed terror organisation” banned in the UK.
“People should not be supporting Hamas and we will make sure that we hold people to account if they are,” he told broadcasters on Tuesday.
The Prime Minister leader said police have been given “clear guidance” to “clamp down on any behaviour that falls foul of the law”.