The BBC continues to spread disinformation about the Gaza Genocide
An examination of one recent interview shows just how badly the British news giant is spreading lies and disinformation almost 80 days into this genocide
I don’t know where to start with this. We have to agree on some basic principles before I proceed.
The first is that journalism means something; it is a sacred profession the purpose of which is to establish the truth.
The second is that establishing truth means, at a minimum, that one is expected to (i) have knowledge of all publicly available evidence and (ii) actually take that evidence into account before advancing a position. The foregoing seems like good rational sense that I doubt anyone would disagree with.
The third is that journalists must exercise scrutiny on all claims. The higher the stakes and the bigger one’s audience, the more scrutiny should be applied to ensure the protection of life and avoid spreading disinformation to the masses. Again, this seems like basic common sense.
Now, the video. Watch it and come back.
Phew. Horrible, right?
Let’s break down exactly why.
Karim Ali from Gaza Sunbirds, a Palestine-based paracycling team, explains to Lucy Hockings, a BBC reporter, that there is “a genocide happening in front of our eyes”. She replies in a condescending manner that this word is “incredibly emotive” and that the “Israelis are saying that they are targeting Hamas only and they don’t target civilians.” Karim insists “that’s not the truth” to which she coldly retorts “civilians are dying”. He persists, trying to explain that “the way that the bombs are being dropped” is not “targeted”. Karim references testimonies from the ground, including the wiping out of entire neighborhoods and the killing of 100 people in one attack alone. Her response is to talk right through him, ignoring his valuable insight as an individual with contacts on the ground, repeating “I do need to make the qualification of couse that Israel is denying that genocide is taking place. They say these are strategic planned strikes in Gaza and that they are targeting the militant group Hamas.”
The first problem with this atrocious exchange is that Hockings rejects the characterization of “genocide” because it is “emotive”. But the question is not whether genocide provokes emotions (obviously it does in anyone with a heart and literally nobody is denying that). The question is whether it is happening.
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