A Tel-Aviv-based human rights organization, Shurat HaDin – Israel Law Center, forwarded a warning letter yesterday to the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), warning the British network not to succumb to the pressure to broadcast a controversial advertisement to raise funds for Gaza. This comes in the aftermath of the recent Israel Defense Forces’ (IDF) incursion into the territory.
The organization approved of the BBC’s decision not to go through with the advertising, and asserted that surrendering to public pressure might expose the network to lawsuits on behalf of terror victims. The letter warned it would be difficult to monitor where the money raised through the advertising would end up. Likely, the group warned, it would fall into the hands of Hamas activists or other terrorist groups.
In this state of affairs, the BBC could be found responsible for aiding and abetting a terrorist organization. Hamas has appropriated many goods and funds donated to Gaza in the past.
Moreover, the letter notes that aiding a terror organization could subject officials of the BBC to personal liability for the injuries caused by that organization, exposing them to lawsuits filed by terror victims in Israel, the United States and other countries.
The organization warned the network that it would consider filing a U.S. lawsuit against the American BBC representative, should it air the fundraising advertisement for Gaza. A similar letter is being sent to Sky News, which has announced it similarly has declined to run the Gaza ads.
David Bedein can be reached at dbedein@israelbehindthenews.com