BBC Contributor in Gaza Sparks Outrage ‘We’ll burn Jews like Hitler did’

[Social Media]

 

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BBC Contributor in Gaza Sparks Outrage with Anti-Semitic Hate Speech

 

A journalist who has frequently appeared on BBC Arabic to report from Gaza has been exposed for posting violently anti-Semitic messages on social media, including a chilling call to "burn" Jews like Hitler did. Samer Elzaenen, who has featured on BBC Arabic over a dozen times since the outbreak of violence following the Hamas attacks on October 7, has stirred major controversy after his hateful online posts came to light.

 

Elzaenen, 33, has provided live reports, including dispatches from the Nuseirat refugee camp last June after an Israeli rescue operation that resulted in numerous Palestinian casualties. However, investigations have uncovered a disturbing history of social media posts in which he not only singles out Jews for blame but openly incites violence against them. In one Facebook post from July 2022, Elzaenen wrote: "When things go awry for us, shoot the Jews, it fixes everything."

 

 

His rhetoric went even further in a 2011 Facebook post, where he issued a direct and terrifying threat: "My message to the Zionist Jews: We are going to take our land back, we love death for Allah’s sake the same way you love life. We shall burn you as Hitler did, but this time we won’t have a single one of you left."

 

Beyond these shocking statements, Elzaenen’s social media activity has consistently glorified violence against Jewish civilians. He has used hashtags like "#We Are All Hamas You Son of a Jewess," praised attacks on Jewish civilians as “blessed” and “heroic,” and referred to the perpetrators as “martyrs” who “ascended” to “heaven.” Following a February 2023 attack where a Palestinian terrorist killed two young boys and a 20-year-old man at a Jerusalem bus stop, Elzaenen remarked that the victims “will soon go to hell.”

 

Elzaenen has repeatedly described the Hamas militants who carried out the October 7 atrocities, including the attack on the Nova music festival, as "resistance fighters," further underlining his deep-rooted extremism.

 

He is not alone in this behavior. Ahmed Qannan, another freelance contributor for BBC Arabic, also expressed chilling sentiments online. After a deadly shooting near a Jerusalem synagogue on Holocaust Memorial Day in January 2023, Qannan responded to a Facebook comment wishing to "see some throats cut" by writing: "Don’t give up on your ambition." He also praised a 26-year-old Palestinian who murdered five people in Bnei Brak in March 2022, calling him a “hero.”

 

While BBC insiders stress that neither Elzaenen nor Qannan are formal members of BBC staff, their continued use as freelance contributors has provoked widespread condemnation. Media watchdogs, including the Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting and Analysis (Camera), argue that BBC Arabic’s choice to feature such individuals reflects a severe bias and a failure to maintain journalistic neutrality.

 

Camera UK issued a scathing statement, saying: “The BBC misleadingly frames freelance journalists used by the Arabic service as mere 'contributors' so it won’t have to take responsibility for the hatred they regularly spew in social media. Freelancers who divulge such egregious bias should not be covering Israeli and Jewish affairs for the BBC."

 

The controversy has prompted political action as well. Kemi Badenoch, leader of the Conservative Party, recently demanded "wholesale reform" of BBC Arabic after Camera's findings surfaced. In a letter to BBC Director-General Tim Davie, Badenoch stressed: “BBC Arabic is intended to provide high-quality, trusted news for the hundreds of millions of people who speak Arabic. Instead, it seems that the World Service may be fomenting extremism and misleading audiences – while funded by the taxpayer and licence fees. This is simply unacceptable and must stop.”

 

Previously, the BBC conducted internal investigations into some Arabic presenters who liked or shared posts that appeared to celebrate the October 7 massacres, but no further disciplinary action was taken.

 

Both Elzaenen and Qannan were contacted for comment but have not publicly responded. In a statement, a BBC spokesperson clarified: “International journalists including the BBC are not allowed access into Gaza so we hear from a range of eyewitness accounts from the strip. These are not BBC members of staff or part of the BBC’s reporting team. We were not aware of the individuals’ social media activity prior to hearing from them on air. We are absolutely clear that there is no place for anti-Semitism on our services.”

 

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  Adpated by ASEAN Now from The Telegraph  2025-04-28

 

 

 

[JonnyF]

57 minutes ago, Social Media said:

A journalist who has frequently appeared on BBC Arabic to report from Gaza has been exposed for posting violently anti-Semitic messages on social media, including a chilling call to "burn" Jews like Hitler did.

 

He was probably after a full time gig at The BBC and thought he'd make it perfectly clear that his political stance was in line with theirs. 

 

In hindsight, it would have been easier to just lie on his CV like the BBC's fact checker girl. 

[Smokey and the Bandit]

“BBC Arabic is intended to provide high-quality, trusted news for the hundreds of millions of people who speak Arabic. Instead, it seems that the World Service may be fomenting extremism and misleading audiences – while funded by the taxpayer and licence fees. This is simply unacceptable and must stop."

 

Badenoch is absolutely correct on this!

This is deplorable, but no real surprise! How many more times does this have to happen before the BBC quite rightly gets banned!

[newbee2022]

You can't say that even you're unhappy withe the situation in Gaza caused by Israel

[AgMech Cowboy]

Makes it perfectly clear why Israel have declared the elimination of Hamas and those who want to annihilate them.  After all, it's war.

 

The BBC and the other MSM have always been against the Israelis.

[klauskunkel]

7 hours ago, Social Media said:

a BBC spokesperson clarified: “We are absolutely clear that there is no place for anti-Semitism on our services.”

... and yet stuff like this just keeps an being revealed, doesn't it...

[Nick Carter icp]

1 hour ago, newbee2022 said:

You can't say that even you're unhappy withe the situation in Gaza caused by Israel

 

  Ha ha ,  I understand that Joke .

I do enjoy a bit of sarcasm

[JonnyF]

33 minutes ago, klauskunkel said:

... and yet stuff like this just keeps an being revealed, doesn't it...

 

Yes, it's almost like they're gaslighting us, isn't it...

 

The Tories should have defunded them when they had the chance. Because there is no chance Labour is going to defund their own propaganda wing. Especially while their views on Gaza/Hamas are so closely aligned with those of the BBC. 

 

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/labour/11749043/Andrew-Gilligan-Jeremy-Corbyn-friend-to-Hamas-Iran-and-extremists.html

 

 

[Watawattana]

I'm sure that this could be written off as a classic Thai-style misunderstanding?

[Sir Dude]

Funny, a deafening silence from the usual self-righteous brigade here on this one, but it's fine that the BBC is up there in its complicty for enabling hate... oh dear, oh dear, such much for balance and credibility. Strong is the bias on here... almost so bad that nothing can really be taken seriously on this forum, just a troll and bot propaganda outlet for nefarious entities.

[newbee2022]

5 hours ago, AgMech Cowboy said:

The BBC and the other MSM have always been against the Israelis.

Understandable?🥺

[Nick Carter icp]

3 minutes ago, newbee2022 said:

Understandable?🥺

 

  Their history :

Labour, Left wing, anti semites .

Its ingrained in them 

[newbee2022]

5 minutes ago, Nick Carter icp said:

 

  Their history :

Labour, Left wing, anti semites .

Its ingrained in them 

Honestly: do you think there are more Labour members antisemites than in the Tory party?

[Nick Carter icp]

1 minute ago, newbee2022 said:

Honestly: do you think there are more Labour members antisemites than in the Tory party?

 

   Yes, Labour supporters pretend to be tolerant , but below the surface they are often racist , misogynistic , anti semites .

   They disguise that but shouting at other people and calling THEM racist , misogynistic , anti semites .

   How many non White men have been voted to lead Labour ?

None ?

[Social Media]

@MalcolmB off topic and inflammatory posts have been removed. Please stop the baiting. Topic here is:

 

BBC Contributor in Gaza Sparks Outrage ‘We’ll burn Jews like Hitler did’

[mikeymike100]

Once again the BBC showing its true colors, Failing to follow the charter AGAIN...

 

"Mission: To act in the public interest, serving all audiences with impartial, high-quality, and distinctive output and services that inform, educate, and entertain.'

 

When they recruit for the BBC what is the first question they ask, 'do you support Hamas', if you say yes your in????

[Chomper Higgot]

4 minutes ago, mikeymike100 said:

Once again the BBC showing its true colors, Failing to follow the charter AGAIN...

 

"Mission: To act in the public interest, serving all audiences with impartial, high-quality, and distinctive output and services that inform, educate, and entertain.'

 

When they recruit for the BBC what is the first question they ask, 'do you support Hamas', if you say yes your in????

Did you miss this bit, or simply choose to ignore it ?

 

In a statement, a BBC spokesperson clarified:“International journalists including the BBC are not allowed access into Gaza so we hear from a range of eyewitness accounts from the strip. These are not BBC members of staff or part of the BBC’s reporting team. We were not aware of the individuals’ social media activity prior to hearing from them on air. We are absolutely clear that there is no place for anti-Semitism on our services.”

 

[Bkk Brian]

1 minute ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Did you miss this bit, or simply choose to ignore it ?

 

 

In a statement, a BBC spokesperson clarified:“International journalists including the BBC are not allowed access into Gaza so we hear from a range of eyewitness accounts from the strip. These are not BBC members of staff or part of the BBC’s reporting team. We were not aware of the individuals’ social media activity prior to hearing from them on air. We are absolutely clear that there is no place for anti-Semitism on our services.”

 

We are absolutely clear that there is no place for anti-Semitism on our services.”

 

BBC Accused of Bias in Israel-Hamas Coverage: Over 1,500 Breaches of Guidelines

 

You forgot to look at the related topics, quite a few more there including from Jewish BBC staff.

 

But yes I'm sure Hamas would also love some international journalists there. They are looking for more hostages in the war zone

[ericbj]

Unacceptable opinions by the BBC "contributor".

 

But were they expressed on the BBC?

If so, the BBC must be condemned for doing nothing.

 

But if not, was the BBC aware that they were expressed on other media?
If unaware, they should investigate more closely the background of those they employ, in whatever category.

 

Today's BBC (no longer what it was) is given more to presenting ready-made "narratives" rather than investigative journalism.

 

Opinions such as those held by the person in question are held by others amongst the Gazan population, whether or not they support Hamas.  Not all do.  And not all hold such opinions.

 

If you take the trouble to listen to a cross-section of opinions of Palestinians and Jews, Jews are not all identified as Zionists.  Many orthodox Jews are supportive of the Palestinians.  If you do not believe it, do a search.

Many Zionists are not Jews.  There are self-identifying "Christian" Zionists; and even Hindu-extremist Zionists in the IDF.

A reporter should report all relevant facts and opinions (however objectionable) while endeavouring to be as objective as possible.
Otherwise the reporting becomes "an opinion piece", and should be identified as such.

[jesimps]

8 hours ago, newbee2022 said:

You can't say that even you're unhappy withe the situation in Gaza caused by Israel

I am, Israel should've gone in harder after the Oct 7th massacre. Someone declares war on you, you go in with everything you've got. Except of course if you're Israel. 

[jesimps]

3 hours ago, newbee2022 said:

Understandable?🥺

Pray, give us your opinion of the Oct 7 massacre and hostage taking, plus the murder of some of the said hostages (men, women and children) whilst being held captive. Then tell us why Israel shouldn't retaliate against Gaza, of which Hamas are the elected rulers of that sihtheol.

[Hellfire]

The problem is - the Jews will burn theirs medieval asses first.

[Nick Carter icp]

17 minutes ago, jesimps said:

I am, Israel should've gone in harder after the Oct 7th massacre. Someone declares war on you, you go in with everything you've got. Except of course if you're Israel. 

 

   Israel were held back by Joe Biden .

The war would have been over by now and all the hostage freed if Joe hadn't delayed the war 

[bendejo]

Great way to promote the Palestinian cause in the eyes of the world, Einstein.

 

 

[Nick Carter icp]

6 hours ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Did you miss this bit, or simply choose to ignore it ?

 

 

In a statement, a BBC spokesperson clarified:“International journalists including the BBC are not allowed access into Gaza so we hear from a range of eyewitness accounts from the strip. These are not BBC members of staff or part of the BBC’s reporting team. We were not aware of the individuals’ social media activity prior to hearing from them on air. We are absolutely clear that there is no place for anti-Semitism on our services.”

 

   The BBC should run some checks on the people who are publishing news articles on their site .

   The BBC published it on their website, the BBC is responsible for that