The BBC violated its own editorial guidelines 1,553 times during the four-month period beginning October 7, 2023, repeatedly downplaying Hamas terrorism and presenting Israel as an aggressor, according to an analysis released over the weekend and reported by the Telegraph.

“The findings reveal a deeply worrying pattern of bias and multiple breaches by the BBC of its own editorial guidelines on impartiality, fairness and establishing the truth,” the report said.

British lawyer Trevor Asserson, who runs Israel’s largest international law firm, Asserson Law Offices, and who has long campaigned against BBC bias, led the research.

He launched an organisation last week called Campaign for Media Standards to expose bias across UK media.

Asserson was joined by a team of about 20 lawyers and 20 data scientists. Artificial intelligence was also used to analyse nine million words of BBC output.

According to the report as described in the Telegraph, some journalists used by the BBC to cover the current Israel-Hamas war previously showed sympathy for Hamas and even celebrated its terrorism.

Jeremy Bowen, the BBC’s international editor, excused Hamas’s terrorist acts and Lyse Doucet, the BBC’s chief international correspondent, downplayed the October 7 attacks on Israel, it claimed, according to the Telegraph.

Researchers also analysed the BBC’s coverage of the four months following October 7 to assess its portrayal of war crimes.

“Hamas members filmed and publicised themselves committing acts which appear to constitute war crimes,” the report said, including the taking of hostages, wilful killing or murder, torture or inhuman treatment and rape or sexual violence.

But despite this, the report’s analysis of BBC coverage found that Israel was associated with war crimes four times more than Hamas (127 versus 30), with genocide 14 times more (283 versus 19) and with breaching international law six times more (167 versus 27).

The report censured especially the public broadcaster’s BBC Arabic channel, describing it as one of the most biased of all international media outlets in its coverage of the Gaza war.

It noted 11 cases in which BBC Arabic featured reporters who had previously made public statements in support of terrorism and Hamas.

Danny Cohen, a former BBC executive, said that there was an “institutional crisis” at the national broadcaster. He called for an independent inquiry into its Gaza war coverage.

The Campaign Against Antisemitism and the National Jewish Assembly also called for an independent review, The Telegraph said.

Sir Oliver Dowden, shadow deputy prime minister, said, “The BBC is one of the premier news services in the world, and to hear that standards may be slipping in such a severe way like this, risks tarnishing the reputation of our news service.

“Serious questions should be asked as to why this has been allowed to happen, and license-fee payers should expect to see the BBC stick to its own editorial guidelines,” he said.

Following the October 7 massacre, the BBC was condemned for failing to call Hamas members “terrorists.” In late October the BBC said it would describe Hamas “where possible” as a “proscribed terrorist organisation.”

However, the report was said to have found that Hamas was described as a “proscribed,” “designated” or “recognised” terrorist organisation just 409 times (3.2 per cent) out of 12,459 mentions over the four-month period.

Greg Smith, a Conservative Party member serving as both transport and business minister in the shadow government, said: “We knew in the aftermath of October 7 that the BBC was struggling to call a terrorist a terrorist.

“There are now clear grounds for Ofcom [the Office of Communications] and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport to use every tool they have in their arsenal to bring about greater compliance with the rules around neutrality and fair coverage in the BBC charter,” he said.

The BBC said it would “carefully consider” the report, which has been submitted to its director general, chairman and other board members, but a spokesman for the corporation has already criticised the research.

A BBC spokesman said: “We have serious questions about the methodology of this report, particularly its heavy reliance on AI to analyse impartiality, and its interpretation of the BBC’s editorial guidelines. We don’t think coverage can be assessed solely by counting particular words divorced from context.
“We are required to achieve due impartiality, rather than the ‘balance of sympathy’ proposed in the report, and we believe our knowledgeable and dedicated correspondents are achieving this, despite the highly complex, challenging and polarising nature of the conflict.

“However, we will consider the report carefully and respond directly to the authors once we have had time to study it in detail.”

The BBC also denied allegations against its staff: “We strongly reject the claims that our reporters ‘celebrated acts of terror’ and we strongly reject the attack on individual members of BBC staff, all of whom are working to the same editorial guidelines.”

Lord Ian Austin, a former Labour Party minister, accused the BBC of “high-handed arrogance” for its ongoing dismissal of criticisms regarding its impartiality.

Lord Stuart Polak, honorary president of the Conservative Friends of Israel, said: “There’s a clear pattern. Other broadcasters have also made errors, but the BBC keeps getting it wrong. It’s shameful, it’s wrong and what’s worse — the BBC knows it.”

Austin said that after spending decades defending the BBC, he is now “convinced” that its coverage of the war “fails to meet the standards of impartiality and independence on which its public funding is based,” The Telegraph reported.

Must Watch Video Remarks from @IsraeliPM @netanyahu: "I was asked whether I am not doing enough to the release of hostages. Well, I want to set the record straight. On April 27th, Secretary of State Blinken said that, ‘Israel made an extraordinary, generous offer for a hostage… pic.twitter.com/yT1rHKbOCJ

— David Milstein (@davidamilstein) September 2, 2024

Israel is currently faced with several challenges, domestic and foreign, which seem at first glance to be insurmountable.

Domestically, the ongoing saga of the Israeli hostages kidnapped by Hamas is boiling over. Concurrently the war against terror rumbles on without any respite. These two crises, combined with the added calls for elections and political accountability, fuel an already volatile atmosphere.

As though these problems were insufficient, we also face the implacable imbecility of a lame-duck US President, an aspiring Democratic candidate and a UN totally subverted by the axis of evil and appeasing fellow travellers.

Add to this toxic mix a media subverted by Orwellian untruths and you have a perfect recipe for chaos, surrender to terror forces and in the near future a world where once again hate rules supreme.

The bottom line both in Israel and the rest of the democratic world is whether we lie down without a fight and accept the inevitability of a new jihadist world order or whether we stand and resist.

The plight of the hostages presents an impossible dilemma.

The agony and desperation of the families whose loved ones are held in Gaza by Hamas and associated terror groups cannot be imagined. Their campaign on behalf of the kidnapped hostages is understandable. Unfortunately this has attracted controversy mainly because parts have been hijacked by groups with differing agendas.

Some demand a unilateral capitulation which includes a complete withdrawal from Gaza and the resurrection of Hamas and associated terror groups. In addition, it means the release from Israeli jails of a thousand or more murderers who, without a doubt, would resume their murderous rampages. This happened when the last so-called deal for one hostage was consummated. Hamas has already made it perfectly clear that it envisages future pogroms and massacres.

Additionally, Sinwar, the Hamas leader has surrounded himself with human hostage shields. Therefore we are faced with letting him escape with the few remaining live hostages. It is an untenable situation especially when one knows with certainty that surrender to terror demands inevitably leads to further such outrages. Those who advocate appeasing terror groups and their enablers seem to remain impervious to any sort of realization that it is the murderers rather than the victims who are guilty of crimes against humanity.

Of course, the media and two-faced political leaders have already decided that Israel is the guilty party and deliberately put the onus on it for refusing to kowtow to terrorists. Joe Biden who has just been on vacation for two weeks blames Netanyahu for “not doing enough” to rescue the hostages. One can only treat his comments with contempt, given his Administration’s abject failure in Afghanistan and also his abject failure to prevent illegals (including known terrorists and criminals) from infiltrating the USA.

Other groups who have latched on to the demonstrations are those calling for elections now and accountability on the part of those responsible for the security lapses on 7 October. These are valid demands but they should wait until the current war is successfully concluded. Undoubtedly there must be a reckoning for failed policies prior to 7 October and subsequent actions. Unfortunately, those whose aims are to engender chaos and disunity prefer to display it now much to the delight of all who relish the spectacle of Israel being pilloried for every imaginable sin.

The Israel Labor Union (Histadrut) declared a general strike whose sole aim seemed to be to wreck the Israeli economy instead of showing solidarity with the war against Hamas. Without a doubt, the terror leaders in Gaza, Lebanon, Qatar, Tehran and elsewhere are rejoicing at the sight of striking Israelis absolving them of any culpability.

Adding lethal fuel to the fires of social unrest are the irrational pontifications, admonitions and unctuous proclamations from all quarters of the democratic world. No sane Israeli expects any sort of solidarity from those nations which themselves are models of hypocritical rhetoric and habitual supporters of the ongoing anti Israel resolutions at the corrupt United Nations. However, the least that could be expected from the diminishing number of true democracies was some sort of understanding of the threats facing civilized societies today.

Pious declarations that “Israel has the right to defend itself” are hollow and insincere when in the next breath those uttering them demand an immediate halt to the campaign before the murderers have been eliminated.

One day after the brutal murder of six Israeli hostages the UK Government announced suspension of 30 arms sales licenses with more under review. Despite frantic denials that this did not constitute any sort of embargo the fact is that “perfidious Albion” has once again shown its true colours.

At the same time a report in the Washington Post revealed that Kamala Harris might be “open to imposing new conditions on future aid to Israel.” This “straw in the wind” of possible future action merely confirms what most in Israel already suspect. A Harris/Walz White House will be in thrall to the hard left and pandering to the jihadist lemmings. The Harris appointed director of Arab outreach is on record as claiming”the Zionists control US politics.”  As Biden demonstrates his incompetence and Harris displays her even worse detachment from reality there is no doubt unrestrained rejoicing in those places where future terror plans are being hatched.

As Hamas and friends issue a call for all Palestinians to mobilize against Israel the UN Secretary General finds it impossible to condemn Hamas by name. Eleven months after 7 October the UN Security Council will finally debate the plight of the kidnapped hostages. Don’t expect anything more meaningful than insincere expressions of hot air and condemnations of Israel’s war against terror.

Iran is trying to turn Judea and Samaria into another Gaza by smuggling weapons to its surrogates for use against Israeli civilians. That is why the IDF has been conducting security operations in the territory. Pre-emptive action is critical to ensuring that the heartland of Israel does not become another area from which lethal terror is directed at civilians. One would think that this elementary fact might resonate with all those who claim to have the Jewish State’s best interests at heart.

Unfortunately, once again, logic flies out the window.

The UN Secretary General who can’t bring himself to blame Hamas for terror against Israelis demands an instant cessation of Israel’s security operations.

The UK is “deeply concerned” that Israel is trying to defend its citizens.

The USA declares that “Israel must immediately rectify its conduct.”

Sundry other foreign ministries issue similar sentiments.

What other nation faced with 80 years of unrelenting hate and terror is admonished to not fight back? What sort of a message does this send to other threatened nations? It is this collective collapse of intestinal fortitude in the face of naked aggression which will at the end of the day spell doom for Europe and then other continents.

A perfect example of the deranged syndrome infecting certain sections of the Israeli left is provided by a news report last week.

Ehud Olmert, a former failed Prime Minister, who was incarcerated for a time, continues to demonstrate an unerring ability at manipulative meddling. It appears that he and the late unlamented Yasser Arafat’s nephew have been “negotiating” with the aim of delivering a peace proposal that is too good to turn down. This priceless piece of self-delusory ego tripping was apparently agreed upon and touted as the ultimate panacea that would lead to peace on earth and the heralding of good will to all humanity.

Its basic premise is a return by Israel to the 1949/1967 armistice lines with minor adjustments. Some 4% of territory will be ceded to Israel with a corresponding percentage of territory handed over to the “Palestinians.” Jerusalem will again be divided with the eastern part of the city part of a Palestinian capital. The UN Security Council would guarantee freedom of worship and a sort of international trusteeship would administer affairs.

This cockeyed concoction of a peace agreement can only be the product of sick minds and delusional appeasers working hand in hand. The tragedy is that it may very well be embraced by those currently demanding an Israeli surrender to terror, self-loathers and most certainly will be heralded by all those in the international community who are totally detached from any sort of reality.

It is not hard to understand why we face irreconcilable challenges.

Even before the official announcement identifying the bodies of the returned hostages, the inflammatory rhetoric had already begun. Wild accusations started circulating, blaming Benjamin Netanyahu for nothing less than the direct murder of the six hostages.

Through our tears and with hearts shattered six times over, here’s a sobering truth that cuts through the emotion: Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar doesn’t want a deal right now. He needs the hostages to ensure his survival and to keep extorting us. His strategy is to wear us down, to prolong our internal conflicts indefinitely, stretching them out for months and years to come. As long as possible. And we’re playing right into his hands.

The public, guided by the “Kaplan protesters” – meaning the masses protesting in Kaplan St. in Tel Aviv, and the understandably distraught families of hostages, unwittingly dances to the tune of Sinwar, the chief executioner. While no one can stand in those families’ shoes or criticize them, they’re unknowingly actors in a play Sinwar has written and continues to direct. Although Hamas is the murderer, the blame and protests are directed at Netanyahu and his ministers, as if they were the killers. This only gives Sinwar more reasons to dig in his heels. In this case, it’s not God hardening Pharaoh’s heart, but the public – awash in a flood of uniform media messages – failing to see that they’re hurting the hostages more than helping them.

Instead of tens or hundreds of thousands gathering at the Egyptian and Gaza borders, or thousands protesting outside Qatari embassies worldwide, crowds are massing at the wrong address. The hostages aren’t being held in the city of Caesarea or Tel Aviv’s Ayalon road. Believe it or not, despite his many critics and undeniable missteps, even Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wants to bring the hostages home.

Israel agreed to President Joe Biden’s proposal and even its revisions. It might agree to further updates, but Sinwar isn’t interested. So Netanyahu and his government, whose negotiating positions can be debated, aren’t really relevant right now. That is unless someone’s willing to agree to Israel’s complete surrender and total withdrawal from Gaza “lock, stock, and barrel.” Even then, the international community won’t give Israel the green light to return to the Philadelphi Corridor. Even if the world turned upside down, and the weapons caches, Hamas terrorists, and rockets waiting in Sinai for Israel’s withdrawal made their way back into Gaza – which has become a modern-day Sodom.

The most clear-headed response to the execution of the six hostages by these new Nazis came from Washington. President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris declared Hamas guilty and vowed they would pay. The question of how they’ll pay should be answered in Israel. We should set the price. The first step, which I proposed here two days after the Oct. 7 massacre, is to pass a law to bring Hamas and its collaborators to justice. We should conduct an expanded “Eichmann trial” against them – a trial that will expose, over time, the full scope of the atrocities Hamas has committed here in the last ten months and stretching back decades.

The second step is to make it crystal clear that Israel will permanently maintain a security buffer zone inside the Gaza Strip, along the border. The loss of this “holy ground” is the surest way to make the Hamas scums understand there’s a price for their murderous actions. Additional steps include further dividing the Strip into smaller, controlled areas and continuing to hunt down Hamas leaders in Gaza and worldwide. We should pursue them just as we did the murderers of the Munich Olympics athletes during Operation “Wrath of God” in former Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir’s time – terrorists who also killed their hostages.