No10 heaps pressure on BBC saying there is ‘no restriction’ on calling Hamas terrorists

DOWNING Street today heaped pressure on the BBC to label baby-slaughtering Hamas terrorists, insisting the broadcaster faces no restrictions in doing so.

As a protest over the BBC's coverage of Hamas monstrosities is expected this evening, No10 confirmed that "the term terrorist is an accurate legal description".

Corporation chiefs have been slammed for failing to greenlight the classification because they claim doing so would be "biased".

But journalists at the national broadcaster comfortably used the term in reference to 9/11 and attacks at the Bataclan in Paris.

A spokesperson for Rishi Sunak said: "The legal position is that Hamas is a proscribed terrorist group - the term terrorist is an accurate legal description.

"To put it into context, the attack we witnessed in Israel was the third deadliest terror attack in the world since 1970.

"So there is no restriction on the BBC using that term, certainly not from Ofcom who have made it clear that, as long as they meet Ofcom rules on accuracy in news and due impartiality in news, it is for broadcasters to think about very carefully what they use to describe unfolding events."

It comes as FA chiefs have been warned they have "much more to do" in paying their respect to the victims of Hamas' barbaric attack on Israel.

Football chiefs came in for major criticism for not lighting up the Wembley arch for last Friday's game against Australia.

Downing Street indicated that the FA could be doing more as England prepare for their game against Italy tomorrow night.

When asked whether Wembley should use the game to light the stadium up in white and blue, a No 10 spokesman said:  "As you say, they have managed to show support in those circumstances.

"I think it is right, given the horror that Israel has been put through, that every part of the UK shows its support."

Asked whether Prime Minister Rishi Sunak thought the FA had "fallen short" in its memorials last week, the No 10 official said: "As I say, we think there is much more to do and much more they can be doing to show support."