Photo: Leon Neal / Getty Images News / Getty Images
The BBC is defending its decision not to describe Hamas militants as "terrorists" in its coverage of the recent attacks on Israel.
The UK Defense Secretary, Grant Shapps, said the policy is "verging on disgraceful."
A BBC spokesperson noted it was a long-standing position for its reporters not to use the term themselves unless attributing it to someone else.
Veteran BBC foreign correspondent John Simpson said, "calling someone a terrorist means you're taking sides."
The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), is a publicly financed broadcasting system in Great Britain, operating under royal charter.