Since the early stages of the war which began as a result of Hamas’ unprecedented attacks on Israel on October 7th 2023, the BBC has avoided providing its audiences with any serious reporting on the topic of Hamas theft of humanitarian aid.
BBC AVOIDS THE ISSUE OF HAMAS THEFT OF HUMANITARIAN AID
Over a year ago, in February 2024, the corporation’s international editor told BBC audiences that “[b]ecause we are not permitted to enter Gaza, we cannot check Israel’s claims that Hamas is stealing the food”. In May 2024 the BBC ignored a US State Department statement about thirty aid trucks having been seized by Hamas.
Last month alone the BBC chose to ignore a story about Hamas operatives accusing their leaders of hoarding humanitarian aid as well as reports about Hamas taxing the augmented aid supplies which entered the Gaza Strip following the ceasefire.
Remarkably, the restrictions on access to the Gaza Strip and the resulting inability to ‘check claims’ has not prevented the BBC from promoting narratives concerning famine and starvation in that territory.
The BBC has had well over a year to investigate the issue of Hamas theft and/or taxing of aid sent by the international community but has shown no serious interest in doing so. Fifteen months into the war, BBC audiences are still seeing the same uncritical amplification of monotone Hamas denials which the BBC has been promoting for months. [emphasis added]
“‘High risk’ of famine in Gaza persists, new UN-backed report says” David Gritten, June 26th 2024
“Israel insists there are no limits to the amount of aid that can be delivered into and across Gaza and blames UN agencies for failing to distribute supplies. It also accuses Hamas of stealing aid, which the group denies.”
“UN says ‘trickle’ of aid reaches north Gaza, as Israel denies blocking access” David Gritten, October 16th 2024
“Hamas has previously denied stealing aid and said Israel is to blame for shortages.
Israel is not allowing international journalists from media organisations, including the BBC, independent access to Gaza making it difficult to verify facts on the ground.”
“US gives Israel 30 days to boost Gaza aid or risk cut to military support” Tom Bateman and David Gritten, October 16th 2024
“Israel has previously insisted there are no limits to the amount of aid or humanitarian assistance that can be delivered into and across Gaza, and blames UN agencies for failing to distribute supplies. It also accuses Hamas of stealing aid, which the group denies.”
“How much food is Israel letting into northern Gaza?” uncredited, October 17th 2024
“Israel has long accused Hamas accused of hijacking and stealing aid deliveries – something the group has denied.”
“Almost 100 Gaza food aid lorries violently looted, UN agency says” David Gritten, November 18th 2024
“Israel has previously insisted there are no limits to the amount of aid that can be delivered into and across Gaza, and accused Hamas of stealing aid, which the group has denied.”
“Gaza rebuild will take ‘a lot of time’, says UN official” David Gritten, January 21st 2025
“Israel has insisted there are no limits to the amount of aid that can be delivered into and across Gaza and blames UN agencies for failing to distribute supplies. It also accuses Hamas of stealing aid, which the group denies.”
“Arab states and UN condemn Gaza aid blockade by Israel” Jaroslav Lukiv, March 3rd, 2025
“Netanyahu said Israel had decided to act “because Hamas steals the supplies and prevents the people of Gaza from getting them.
“It uses these supplies to finance its terror machine, which is aimed directly at Israel and our civilians, and this we cannot accept.”
Hamas has previously denied stealing humanitarian aid in Gaza.”
“Gaza food prices soar after Israel halts aid deliveries” Mallory Moench, March 5th 2025
“After the ceasefire’s first phase expired on Saturday, Netanyahu’s office accused Hamas of stealing aid “to finance its terror machine”.
Hamas has previously denied stealing humanitarian aid in Gaza.”
“What we know about the Gaza ceasefire deal” Raffi Berg, updated March 5th 2025
“He also claimed Hamas had been stealing the aid – something the group has previously denied – and using it “to finance its terror machine” against Israel.”
“The group” which the BBC repeatedly yet uncritically quotes is of course a vicious terrorist organisation that has no qualms about either slaughtering Israelis or executing Palestinians. Nevertheless, the BBC has been blindly quoting Hamas’ denials for months on end, while displaying no interest in verifying the accuracy of its claims. That policy is of course particularly incongruous given that the BBC claims to provide “news you can trust” and touts itself as an antidote to ‘fake news’ and ‘disinformation’.
As previously stated, the IPC (aka BBC) is simply a mouthpiece for Hamas – and will always spout Iran’s case including the annihilation of Israel.