BBC launches probe into journalists’ support for Hamas on social media

LONDON (AA) – The BBC has launched investigations into journalists working for its Arabic service in the Middle East over social media posts “justifying” killing of Israeli civilians by Hamas, according to local media reports.

The British public service broadcaster has taken action after people questioned the impartiality of six reporters and a freelancer in their social media posts on X, accusing them of anti-Israel bias and celebrating Hamas attacks on social media.

One of the comments on one of the posts was reportedly saying: “morning of hope,” referring to the October 7 attacks in Israel.

Senior broadcast journalist Mahmoud Sheleib, broadcast journalist Aya Hossam, correspondent Sally Nabil, Cairo-based Salma Khattab, Beirut-based religious affairs correspondent Sanaa Khouri, Beirut-based program editor Nada Abdelsamad, and Egypt All Sports, a company run by Amr Fekry, a sports correspondent and pundit at BBC Arabic, are among the seven reporters under investigation, daily MailOnline reported on Sunday.

The report added that the journalists have been taken off the air while the investigation is being carried out.

The Telegraph reported, citing the BBC, that Hossam is a freelancer and will no longer work for the corporation.

Last week, veteran journalist Jonathan Cook took to social media to highlight how the BBC’s biased news coverage is enabling Israeli violence further.