An Israeli satirical television program has taken aim at the BBC in a scathing parody of the broadcaster’s coverage of the conflict between Israel and Hamas.
The political satire show ‘Eretz Nehederet,’ which means ‘wonderful country,’ on Tuesday featured a parody that included a mock ‘interview’ with Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, along with a World War II history segment. that ridiculed calls for a ceasefire.
The segment parodying a BBC history program interjects with illustrations of Britain and Germany in wartime: ‘On this day in 1944, the heartless Winston Churchill rejected a ceasefire and continued the genocidal attack on Nazi Germany. .
“As we now know, many more German civilians have died in the war, making them victims and Britain a war criminal.”
The clip is set in a mock interview between fictional BBC presenter ‘Rachel’, played by Liat Harlev, and ‘Sinwar’, ’39 days after Hamas freedom fighters peacefully invaded Israel’.
He talks about the events of the last month, including the taking of child hostages (who Sinwar says are “torturing” him with their cries) and repeated calls for a ceasefire.
“All we want is a little time to rearm before we keep killing them and they won’t let us,” Sinwar’s character says, before the host concludes: “I really hope we get a ceasefire soon.”
The second clip is a swipe, portraying Britain as a “war criminal” for not agreeing to a ceasefire with Hitler.
“As we now know, many more German civilians have died in the war, making them victims and Britain a war criminal,” the satire states.
The satire reprises the montage adopted last month, when Eretz Nehederet parodied the station’s coverage of an explosion at a Gaza hospital.
The programme’s hyperbolic parody of the BBC’s coverage comes amid criticism of the broadcaster’s use of language in reference to Hamas and its reporting on the war.
When told a child hostage is with Sinwar, BBC reporter suggests he is ‘occupying’ his house
The clip, shared on X, formerly known as Twitter, has been viewed more than half a million times since it was uploaded on November 14.
Users have been divided over the satire, with the top comment reading: “To be honest, the baby part wasn’t funny.” I hope the mother doesn’t see it.
Halfway through the video, Sinwar’s interview is interrupted by the sound of a child crying.
Rachel, the presenter, asks him to ‘make the baby shut up’, to which Sinwar replies: ‘I wish I could. He is not mine. His mother is in Israel. But it does not matter.’
And he continues: ‘At night it is even worse. Every time we fire a rocket, she wakes up. I haven’t slept well a single night in a month.
The journalist responds: ‘Wait, are you telling me that there is an Israeli baby who is torturing you by depriving you of sleep?’
‘Yes!’
‘Occupying your house?’
‘Aiwa, yes!’
‘Very unfair. Very unfair. And the world does absolutely nothing about it.
Satire appears again on the BBC when Sinwar describes the situation in Gaza.
‘The situation in Gaza is terrible… all the innocent civilians are fleeing the city, so we are left without protection… our hospitals, our schools, are left without rockets!’
‘Without any human shield! How unfair,’ the presenter responds.
The video shows that the BBC sympathizes with Hamas.
Journalist suggests Israeli boy held by Hamas is ‘torturing’ Sinwar
The presenter appreciates Sinwar’s character and says she hopes Hamas will achieve a ceasefire soon
The BBC has received some criticism for its reporting on the conflict in the Southern Levant since 7 October.
The Jerusalem Post, an Israeli newspaper that claims to represent the Israeli center, said the BBC was “among Western media outlets that have been critical of Israel” and “published unverified reports that Israel had bombed Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital.” and killed more than 500 people. people’.
The coverage inspired Eretz Nehederet to publish another parody on October 25, featuring regulars Liat Harlev as host and Yuval Semmo as correspondent in what he calls the “illegal colony of Tel Aviv.”
The video begins: “Israel has bombed a hospital in Gaza, killing hundreds of innocent people.”
The presenter says ‘more, more’, and an on-screen adjustment raises the reported casualties from 500 to 750.
Correspondent ‘Harry Whiteguilt’ shares absurd ‘images’ of the alleged attack and says ‘we received this video from Hamas, the most credible non-terrorist organization in the world.’
Then a banner appears on the screen saying, “We love Hamas.”
The BBC has come under fire for refusing to refer to Hamas as “terrorists”.
UK Defense Secretary Grant Shapps said the policy “borders on disgraceful”.
But the broadcaster argued in October that it had long avoided using the term unless it was attributed to someone else.
“We always take our use of language very seriously,” a spokesperson said at the time.
‘Anyone who watches or listens to our coverage will hear the word ‘terrorist’ used many times; we attribute it to those who use it, for example the UK government.
‘This is an approach that has been used for decades and is in line with that of other broadcasters.
“The BBC is an editorially independent broadcaster whose job is to accurately explain what is happening ‘on the ground’ so that our audiences can make their own judgement.”
Veteran BBC correspondent John Simpson said that “calling someone a terrorist means you are taking sides.”
“In fact, I think it’s almost embarrassing the idea that there is any kind of equivalence, and they will always say, well, there are two sides,” Grant Shapps told LBC.
BBC Director General Tim Davie arrives at Westminster Abbey, London, ahead of the coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla on Saturday. Photo date: Friday, May 5.
Simpson took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to defend his employer’s decision
The United Kingdom has banned the military wing of Hamas as a terrorist organization. since 2001extending the ban until November 2021 to the entire group.
According to the government: “At the time, Her Majesty’s Government considered that there was a sufficient distinction between the so-called political and military wings of Hamas that they should be treated as different organizations, and that only the military wing was involved in terrorism. .
‘The government now considers the approach of distinguishing between different parts of Hamas to be artificial. Hamas is a complex but unique terrorist organization.’
The government itself political document on banned terrorist groups describes Hamas as “a militant Islamist movement.”
According to Israel, some 1,200 Israelis have been killed in the conflict since October 7, most of whom died during the initial raid.
More than 11,000 Palestinians have been confirmed dead in the conflict, according to Gaza health officials.
The United Nations and human rights charities have criticized Israel’s retaliatory attacks, including the siege of the Gaza Strip, home to 2.3 million people.
More than 1.5 million have moved to the south of the enclave since Israel issued evacuation orders last month.
Once again, Israel was accused of violating international law for the sudden departure order, and aid agencies warned that the sudden movement of people was impossible.
The United Nations said the lawsuit would have “devastating humanitarian consequences.”
Civilians in Gaza have been left with little food, water, fuel and medical supplies since Israel imposed the siege on October 9.
Now that allies in the United States support “humanitarian pauses,” Israel has committed to daily four-hour pauses to allow aid to pass through.
The first truck carrying fuel to Gaza since October 9 crossed from Egypt today after Israel gave its approval for 24,000 liters of diesel to be transported for UN aid distribution trucks, although not for use in hospitals. , according to a humanitarian source cited. by Reuters.
While the United States and Israel remain opposed to a ceasefire, with some citing concerns that it would give Hamas time to rearm, international pressure in the form of protests continues to mount.
Last weekend, 300,000 people flocked to London to call for a ceasefire, sparking violent reactions from far-right counter-protesters on Armistice Day.
