BBC faces backlash for hosting Palestinian leader praising Hamas attack

The BBC faced criticism after hosting Mustafa Barghouti, a Palestinian politician, on its Radio 4 program, World at One. Barghouti had previously referred to the October 7 Hamas attack as 'a glorious day' for Palestinians, which resulted in the deaths of 1,200 Israelis and the abduction of 251 civilians. His comments were made during an interview following a large-scale Israeli military operation in the West Bank that left nine Palestinians dead. During the interview, Barghouti was questioned about his stance on Palestinian attacks against Israelis. He claimed to have always advocated for non-violent resistance, a statement that drew skepticism from Israeli officials who felt the BBC should have challenged his assertions more rigorously. The backlash against the BBC intensified as the situation in Gaza escalated, with the discovery of six Israeli hostages' bodies, who had been missing since the October 7 attack. The Israeli military reported that these hostages were brutally murdered by Hamas shortly before their bodies were found in an underground tunnel. This revelation added to the emotional toll on the families of the victims and the broader Israeli public, who have been grappling with the ongoing conflict and the fate of those taken captive. In response to the situation, Israeli President Isaac Herzog expressed condolences to the families of the deceased and reaffirmed Israel's commitment to combating Hamas. The incident has sparked a wider debate about media responsibility and the portrayal of sensitive political issues in the context of ongoing violence.