Complaint
A listener complained that the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½â€™s International Editor, Jeremy Bowen, gave a one-sided account of matters to do with the initial signing of a Gaza ceasefire agreement earlier that morning, particularly by over-emphasising the views of Israeli politicians who wanted hostilities to continue and failing to mention that a senior Hamas official had publicly pledged to repeat the 7 October attacks even after the ceasefire had been announced. The ECU considered the complaint in the light of the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½â€™s editorial standards of impartiality.
Outcome
The focus of the item was on how the ceasefire would be perceived politically in Israel. In that context, it was relevant that the Israeli Prime Minister’s position had been criticised by some in his own cabinet who believed it resiled from the promise to destroy Hamas. The hostile comments of a Hamas leader were not so relevant as to require mention for impartiality to be maintained.
Not upheld