Foreign secretary’s call comes after group releases video of British-Israeli hostage it says died after being wounded in Israeli airstrike

Foreign secretary’s call comes after group releases video of British-Israeli hostage it says died after being wounded in Israeli airstrike

David Cameron has urged the BBC to describe Hamas as a terrorist organisation, reviving an accusation that the corporation shies away from a valid description of the Islamist group that is holding Israeli hostages.

The UK foreign secretary told the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg that the organisation should reconsider its guidelines in light of a video released by Hamas showing the British-Israeli hostage Nadav Popplewell, who the group said had died in Gaza.

Hamas released a statement on Saturday saying the 51-year-old had died after being wounded in an Israeli airstrike a month ago. The video showed him with a black eye.

  • Flying SquidMEnglish
    7•6 months ago

    They are, in fact, allowed to print anything they want. They are not beholden to the government. That’s a simple fact.

      • Flying SquidMEnglish
        4•6 months ago

        I’m not sure how you think that changes anything that I said and makes them beholden to the government, but okay.

        I’d think the fact that they aren’t doing what David Cameron wants them to do proves you wrong, but you seem to think your “research” trumps reality, so…

        • @[email protected]English
          -3•6 months ago

          Well, the BBC is clearly regulated by the government, while you claim that is not the case due to ‘simple facts’…

          • Flying SquidMEnglish
            7•6 months ago

            The simple fact being that David Cameron told them to call Hamas terrorists and they said no. Read the article. If they are beholden to the government, how is that possible?

            • @[email protected]English
              -3•6 months ago

              They are not beholden to the government. That’s a simple fact.

              Hm, well see, that’s not what you referred the ‘simple fact’ to be is it?

              • Flying SquidMEnglish
                4•6 months ago

                Again- if that is not a fact, why are they allowed to go against what David Cameron is telling them to do?

                • @[email protected]English
                  -2•6 months ago

                  Because David Cameron cannot personally dictate the state…

                  One thing I’ve learnt in life is the value of accepting when I’m in the wrong.

                  • Flying SquidMEnglish
                    1•6 months ago

                    So… you’re saying that the BBC must be beholden to the state in terms of messaging, but a senior cabinet member does not? That’s really your argument?