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.

  • @[email protected]
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    -37 months ago

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

    • Flying SquidM
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      77 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]
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        -37 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 SquidM
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          47 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]
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            -27 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 SquidM
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              17 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?

              • @[email protected]
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                -17 months ago

                No for gods sake, I never said that. Is it truly so horrific to simply admit to be in the fault?

                • Flying SquidM
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                  27 months ago

                  Yes, I get very much that you want me to say that I’m wrong in order to validate your ego, but I’m not especially interested in continuing this conversation while you continually insist I say so.

                  And if I moderated my own conversations, which I do not, you would be taking a break for harassing someone.