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BBC NEWS
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-67083432

Why BBC doesn't call Hamas militants 'terrorists' - John Simpson

By John Simpson
World Affairs editor

Government ministers, newspaper columnists, ordinary people - they're all asking why the BBC doesn't
say the Hamas gunmen who carried out appalling atrocities in southern Israel are terrorists.

The answer goes right back to the BBC's founding principles.

Terrorism is a loaded word, which people use about an outfit they disapprove of morally. It's simply not
the BBC's job to tell people who to support and who to condemn - who are the good guys and who are
the bad guys.

We regularly point out that the British and other governments have condemned Hamas as a terrorist
organisation, but that's their business. We also run interviews with guests and quote contributors who
describe Hamas as terrorists.The key point is that we don't say it in our voice. Our business is to present
our audiences with the facts, and let them make up their own minds.

As it happens, of course, many of the people who've attacked us for not using the word terrorist have
seen our pictures, heard our audio or read our stories, and made up their minds on the basis of our
reporting, so it's not as though we're hiding the truth in any way - far from it.

Any reasonable person would be appalled by the kind of thing we've seen. It's perfectly reasonable to
call the incidents that have occurred "atrocities", because that's exactly what they are. No-one can
possibly defend the murder of civilians, especially children and even babies - nor attacks on innocent,
peace-loving people who are attending a music festival.

BBC LIVE
https://www.bbc.com/news/live/world-middle-east-67073970

UK government fills seats on first arranged flight from Israel

Nick Beake
Reporting from Tel Aviv

A British official at Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport tells me all seats for the first UK government-
arranged flight out of Israel have now been allocated. Those travelling have already been sent a text
message.

The official said he was unaware when the flight would leave later today. He said it would be a chartered
flight, rather than commercial or military. BA and Virgin flights to and from the airport are currently
suspended. El Al - the Israeli carrier - continues to operate flights to the UK.
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UK NEWS
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-67076865

Children among 17 Britons dead or missing in Israel

By Michael Sheils McNamee
BBC News

Seventeen British nationals, including children, are dead or missing after the Hamas attack on Israel, an
official UK source has told the BBC. It is an increase on the previous estimate of "more than 10".

The death toll in Israel has reached 1,200, with more than 900 people killed by Israeli air strikes on
Gaza.

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly has travelled to Israel, with the Foreign Office saying the visit was
to meet survivors and outline UK support. A Foreign Office spokesperson said Mr Cleverly was in Israel
"to demonstrate the UK's unwavering solidarity with the Israeli people following Hamas' terrorist
attacks". They added: "He will be meeting survivors of the attacks and senior Israeli leaders to outline
UK support for Israel's right to defend itself."

The deaths of Nathanel Young, Bernard Cowan and Jake Marlowe have been confirmed. Mr Young was
a 20-year-old who attended JFS School, a Jewish school in North London, and was serving in the
military in Israel. The school's headteacher, David Moody, said the school's community was
"devastated" and "heartbroken" at the news of his death. He added: "Nathanel is fondly remembered
within the school and we think of him with nothing but love."

Mr Young's funeral, held at Israel's national cemetery Mount Herzl, was interrupted after loud bangs
were heard over Jerusalem. More than 1,000 people turned out and listened as Mr Young's younger
brother Elliot paid tribute to him. But when his sister started to remember him, an emergency siren
pierced the tranquility and prompted mourners to throw themselves to the ground, taking cover under
trees and between gravestones.

Bernard Cowan grew up in Glasgow before settling in Israel with his wife and three children. His family
said in a statement: "We are grieving the loss of our son and brother, Bernard Cowan, who was
horrifically murdered on Saturday during the surprise terrorist attack on Israel by Hamas. "We ask for
privacy at this time while we process this huge loss to our family, both at home and in Israel, and to the
Jewish community in Glasgow where he will be sorely missed."

Jake Marlowe was working as a security guard at the Supernova music festival, where 260 people were
killed when it was stormed by militants. On Wednesday afternoon, the Israeli Embassy in London
confirmed he was also among the victims. The 26-year-old has been reported as missing after the attack,
which took place at the Re'im kibbutz around 3.7 miles (6km) from the Gaza barrier. Mr Marlowe was
also a former pupil of JFS in North London.

The family of Daniel Darlington have also said they believe he is among those killed. In a statement
posted on Instagram, his sister referred to him as Danny and her "baby brother". She said he was killed
at the Nir Oz kibbutz alongside a friend.

Speaking to BBC Breakfast on Wednesday, Defence Secretary Grant Shapps said the UK is offering
"moral" as well as "practical support" to Israel. He said he had spoken to ministers in the Israeli
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government. "We have asked the Israeli government to let us know what they need. And again, we
continue to talk to them about that."

Shadow foreign secretary David Lammy has written to Mr Cleverly to ask what steps are being taken
to ensure that British people who want to leave Israel are able to do so. Mr Lammy, whose Tottenham
constituency is home to a significant Jewish population, told the foreign secretary that while Israeli
airspace "has not officially been closed", most UK airlines have been "forced to cancel their flights for
the foreseeable future". "This is obviously deeply concerning for all those who are desperate to return
to loved ones in the UK," he said.