Israeli President criticises BBC over Hamas 'distortion of facts'

During a meeting with British Prime Minster Rishi Sunak, Israeli President Isaac Herzog has repeated recent criticism of the BBC for not calling Hamas 'terrorists'.

He said: "We are dealing with one of the worst terror organisations in the world... because the BBC has a certain linkage and it is known as Britain all over the world, there has to be an outcry so that there will be a correction, and Hamas will be defined as a terror organisation."

Hamas is officially designated as a terrorist organisation in the UK, US and the EU.  On Monday, protesters gathered outside BBC Broadcasting House to demonstrate against the Corporation's perceived bias.

The BBC's director of editorial policy and standards David Jordan recently told Radio 4's The Media Show that the guideline had been in place for many years and was intended to avoid a perception of bias.

He said: "It's about making sure that all audiences trust the information that we're giving them, that they don't think the BBC is coming at this from one side of the conflict as opposed to the other, and that we steer a course though this in very difficult circumstances in which our journalism can continue to be factual, accurate, impartial and truthful."

BBC veteran foreign correspondent John Simpson defended recent coverage. He said: "Calling someone a terrorist means you're taking sides".

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly and Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer have also urged the broadcaster to revise its policy, while Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said the BBC "needs to explain why it isn't" using that word.