As readers may be aware, the BBC World Service has provided free English language lessons since 1943. The current version of that project is called ‘BBC Learning English’ and its operations include the publication of content on a dedicated website, social media channels and podcasts, as well as in collaboration with other BBC departments and external partners.
On September 17th, that publicly funded BBC department apparently arrived at the conclusion that the English language skills of its audiences could be improved by means of promotion of the libel that Israel is committing ‘genocide’ in the Gaza Strip.
“An investigation by the United Nations, called a ‘commission of inquiry’, has found that Israel has committed genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.
There are five acts of genocide defined under international law, and this report says that four out of the five acts have been carried out by Israel since the start of the war with Hamas in 2023.
The report also says there is evidence of genocidal intent in statements by Israeli leaders, and the actions of Israeli forces.
Israel’s foreign ministry has rejected the report, saying that it is “distorted and false”.”
The “from the news” story (also promoted on YouTube and a BBC World Service podcast) to which that item relates is the one promoted a day earlier on the BBC News website, likewise with no information provided on the topic of the bias of members of the UN HRC’s controversial “Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel” and no attempt made to explain to audiences the methodology and motivations of that long discredited commission which is responsible for this latest politically motivated ‘report’.
BBC NEWS JUMPS ON THE ‘GENOCIDE’ BANDWAGON ONCE AGAIN
That, however, is not the sole example of promotion of a politically motivated narrative embraced by the BBC by means of its ‘Learning English’ project.
On July 23rd 2025 the same BBC department promoted an English lesson titled “War in Gaza ‘must end now’, 28 countries say”, with its subject matter presented as follows:
“A joint statement from 28 nations has demanded an end to the war in Gaza and the release of Israeli hostages. The statement says the ‘suffering of civilians in Gaza has reached new depths’, meaning it is worse than ever.
More than 100 aid agencies say mass starvation is spreading across Gaza.
Over 59,000 have been killed since Israel launched its offensive after the Hamas-led attacks on 7 October 2023, according to Gaza’s health ministry, run by Hamas.
Israel has rejected the criticism in the joint statement from the 28 countries as being ‘disconnected from reality’.”
The BBC News website promoted that “100 aid agencies” story at the time – without any information concerning the political agendas of organisations such as ‘Oxfam’, ‘Save the Children’ and ‘MSF’ – as part of its self-conscription to an organised public relations campaign.
HOW THE BBC JOINED THE GAZA STARVATION CAMPAIGN
Since the beginning of 2025, the “learning English from the news” section of the “Learning English” website has produced thirty-seven items of content, five of which (13.5%, including the two above) relate to Israel. The other items are titled “Gaza ceasefire at risk” (February 12th), “Israel-Iran strikes” (June 18th) and “Israel-Iran ceasefire” (June 25th). The sources of the “news headlines” quoted in those five items include the Qatari funded outlets Middle East Eye and Al Jazeera as well as the Palestine Chronicle.
As we see, the BBC has not only self-conscripted to the uncritical amplification of politically motivated narratives concerning ‘genocide’, ‘famine’ and ‘starvation’ on its multiple news platforms but even opportunistically promotes those libels in content aimed at worldwide audiences aspiring to improve their English language skills.
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