Jon Sopel has hit out at the BBC for refusing to describe Hamas as terrorists after its horror attack on Israel.
The former BBC journalist said the corporation’s guidance to staff is “no longer fit for purpose”.
He retweeted a post by ex-BBC presenter Andrew Neil on reports that Hamas killed 40 babies in an assault on a kibbutz in Israel.
Sopel said: “Dear friends and former colleagues BBC News, if this doesn’t describe an act of pure terror by terrorists what does?
“The guidelines that I followed for years are no longer fit for purpose, and sadly have the effect of sanitising.”
The BBC’s editorial guidelines have a specific section on Israel and Palestine.
It states that: “Terrorism is a difficult and emotive subject with significant political overtones and care is required in the use of language that carries value judgments.”
Staff are told not to use the term “terrorist” without attribution, and should instead use words such as “bomber”, “attacker”, “gunman”, “kidnapper”, “insurgent” and “militant”.
But veteran BBC journalist John Simpson defended the corporation following a backlash, including from Defence Secretary Grant Shapps and immigration minister Robert Jenrick.
Mr Simpson said: “British politicians know perfectly well why the BBC avoids the word ‘terrorist’, and over the years plenty of them have privately agreed with it.
“Calling someone a terrorist means you’re taking sides and ceasing to treat the situation with due impartiality.
“The BBC’s job is to place the facts before its audience and let them decide what they think, honestly and without ranting.
“That’s why, in Britain and throughout the world, nearly half a billion people watch, listen to and read us.
“There’s always someone who would like us to rant. Sorry, it’s not what we do.”
The BBC was contacted for comment.
