A CAMERA Arabic investigation covered May 15 in The Times (London) has revealed that BBC Arabic has repeatedly relied on Gaza Strip reporting from Wesam Afifa, a senior figure in Hamas’ propaganda apparatus, while failing to disclose his long-standing leadership roles within Hamas-affiliated media outlets.
Afifa, currently employed by Hamas’ Al-Aqsa Media Network as a “journalist and researcher,” previously served as the network’s director for seven years. He also spent 18 years as editor-in-chief of Hamas’ Al-Resalah newspaper and website. Both platforms are known for disseminating antisemitic content.
Despite these affiliations, according to CAMERA Arabic, Afifa has appeared on BBC Arabic broadcasts from Gaza at least ten times, including a recent live report on May 2, 2025, in which he described “atrocious massacres” and “hunger” in the Gaza Strip.
During these segments, BBC Arabic presented Afifa as a neutral “journalistic author,” without disclosing his leadership role at Al-Aqsa Media Network.
“This case highlights the fundamental flaws in BBC Arabic’s process for sourcing and broadcasting information from Gaza,” said a CAMERA Arabic representative. “The network appears unable or unwilling to engage local reporters who are free from associations with antisemitism or terrorist organizations.”
“Given the ‘How To Survive a Warzone’ controversy, in which the BBC paid $1,000 to the family of a top Hamas official, and the standard practice of compensating local contributors, British authorities must urgently investigate whether these arrangements breach UK laws prohibiting the financing of terrorist groups, including the Terrorism Act 2000,” the representative added.
About CAMERA Arabic
Founded in 2017, CAMERA Arabic seeks to ensure that Western media outlets’ Arabic-language coverage of Israel is factually accurate and adheres to professional codes of journalistic conduct. CAMERA staff regularly correspond in both Arabic and English with editors to prompt corrections and to ensure sound journalistic coverage. Its reports are an indispensable resource for journalists and researchers interested in professional journalistic practice within Arabic-language news reporting and has been cited on countless articles in media outlets including The Telegraph, Daily Mail, National Review, Times (London), Jewish Chronicle and more.