David Cameron blasts BBC for failing to name Hamas ‘terrorists’

David Cameron today challenged the BBC over their failure to describe Hamas as ‘terrorists’ after the Palestinian group claimed a British-Israeli hostage had died.

The Foreign Secretary furiously urged the broadcaster to ‘ask itself again’ about how it labels Hamas in the wake of the October 7 atrocities.

Nadav Popplewell, 51, was captured with his mother from her home in Kibbutz Nirim when Hamas launched their deadly attacks in Israel.

The group, officially classed as a terror outfit by the UK Government, released undated footage on Saturday of Mr Popplewell with a black eye confirming his name.

Yet, just hours later, they released a second video in which they said he died of wounds sustained in an Israeli missile strike in Gaza.

Lord Cameron said the Foreign Office was currently ‘trying to work out what has happened’ to Mr Popplewell as he declined to give an update on Hamas’s claims.

But, appearing on the BBC’s Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg show, he blasted the ‘callous’ militants for ‘playing with the family’s emotions’.

‘Maybe it’s a moment actually for the BBC to ask itself again, should we describe these people as terrorists? They are terrorists,’ the Foreign Secretary added.

David Cameron today challenged the BBC over their failure to describe Hamas as ‘terrorists’ after the Palestinian group claimed a British-Israeli hostage had died

The Foreign Secretary, appearing on the Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg show, furiously urged the BBC to ‘ask itself again’ about how it labels Hamas in the wake of the October 7 atrocities

Hamas released undated footage on Saturday of Mr Popplewell with a black eye confirming his name – but, just hours later, they released a second video in which they said he had died

Lord Cameron said he had met with Nadav’s family – including his sister Ayelet Svalitzky (pictured) – and knows ‘the heartbreak they’ve been going through for over 200 days’

Mr Popplewell’s brother was killed during the October 7 attacks, while his mother was released during a temporary ceasefire in November.

Lord Cameron said: ‘I can’t give you any new updates this morning.

‘Like everyone else, I watched the video on Twitter/X last night, put out by Hamas of Nadav answering a question as to who he was.

‘And I watched that video and you just think what callous people they are to do that, to play with the family’s emotions in that way.

‘I met Nadav’s family, his sister, and I know the heartbreak they’ve been going through for over 200 days, and when you see what Hamas are prepared to do, you just realise the terrible, dreadful, inhuman people, frankly, that we are dealing with.

‘And maybe it’s a moment actually for the BBC to ask itself again, should we describe these people as terrorists? They are terrorists.

‘If you kidnap grandmothers, if you kidnap babies, if you rape people, if you shoot children in front of their parents – what more do they need to do for the BBC to say ‘look these are terrorists’. They really are.’

The Foreign Office is ‘trying to work out what has happened’ and will not ‘say anything until we have better information,’ Lord Cameron added.

Since the Hamas atrocities on 7 October, the BBC has faced huge criticism for sticking to its policy of not directly labelling the group as terrorists.

Amid the intense pressure, the BBC shifted its position to no longer use the term ‘militant’ as a ‘default description’ for Hamas – but the broadcaster stressed it would not ‘use the word terrorist without attributing it’.

The BBC often refers to Hamas as being ‘proscribed as a terrorist group by the UK Government’.

Mr Popplewell is described by the Hostages and Missing Families Forum as ‘generous and kind’ and an avid reader of science fiction novels.

A Foreign Office spokesperson said: ‘We’re urgently seeking more information following the release of this video. Our thoughts are with his family at this extremely distressing time.

‘The UK Government has been working with partners across the region to secure the release of hostages, including British nationals. We will continue to do all we can to secure the release of hostages.’