VILE: BBC’s shocking depiction of Hamas as ‘Guards’ of hostages

According to The Telegraph, the original January 30 clip described the unit as “responsible for securing the hostages” and included footage of female Israeli captives seemingly thanking their captors for “good treatment.” Following a complaint from Camera (Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting and Analysis), BBC Arabic edited the video, removing the “good treatment” claim and adding evidence of Hamas’ documented abuses against hostages.

The controversy reignites long-standing accusations of bias against BBC Arabic, with Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch accusing it of “fomenting extremism and misleading audiences.” This follows the BBC’s recent withdrawal of a Gaza documentary narrated by a Hamas minister’s son—without disclosing his ties. Danny Cohen, former BBC Television director, called the video a “puff piece on war criminals,” condemning it as propaganda that glosses over Hamas’ atrocities. “The shadow unit aren’t ‘guards’—they’re monstrous terrorists who’ve executed, starved, beaten, and sexually assaulted hostages kidnapped on October 7,” he told The Telegraph. Cohen argued that BBC Arabic, partly funded by taxpayers, is spewing “antisemitic poison” to its 38 million Arab-speaking viewers.

Camera’s Hadar Sela echoed this, noting the unit’s role in kidnapping 251 people and its campaign of torture and sexual violence. “To platform Hamas’ claims uncritically while ignoring the horrific reality is offensive and inaccurate,” she said. Camera has escalated the issue to the BBC’s Executive Complaints Unit after releasing a 33-page report alleging years of extremist bias in BBC Arabic’s coverage.

The BBC defended the piece, insisting it was “duly accurate” and merely outlined the unit’s role, not its actions. A spokesman said the edits provided “additional context,” but critics like Cohen and Sela argue the broadcaster’s response fails to address a deeper “rot” of bias that demands urgent reform.