To hear from you. Its a crucial part of the programme. Email me mail at gb news. But now its time for the news. For the news today with Aaron Armstrong. Today with Aaron Armstrong. Very good evening to you. Its Aaron Armstrong here in the gb newsroom. The Prime Minister has held talks with Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman in the saudi capital, riyadh. His latest stop in series of diplomatic in a series of diplomatic meetings the middle east. Meetings in the middle east. Rishi encouraged saudi rishi sunak encouraged saudi arabia to use its influence to support stability in the region. Support stability in the region. The pair agreed about the importance of avoiding any further escalation of the israel Hamas Conflict , further escalation of the israel Hamas Conflict, but further escalation of the israel Hamas Conflict , but the israel Hamas Conflict, but the Prime Minister will make further stops in the middle east. They are yet to be announced. Well, are yet to be announced. Well, earlier in jerusalem, the Prime Minister told his israeli counterpart, Benjamin Netanyahu , counterpart, Benjamin Netanyahu, that he welcomed the decision to allow humanitarian aid into gaza from egypt and said the uk stood in solidarity with israel and mr netanyahu thanked him for visiting the country, calling it a strong statement of support. In a time of darkness. Rishi in a time of darkness. Rishi sunak, though, stressed israel must adhere to International Law in gaza and the conflict must not spread elsewhere. Not spread elsewhere. Good, productive conversations with both Prime Minister netanyahu and the israeli president herzog. Among israeli president herzog. Among other things, we discussed the importance of this conflict not escalating regional and the importance of getting humanitarian aid into gaza to help people who need it. I also help people who need it. I also had the opportunity to meet families of british nationals who have been taken hostage. We are doing absolutely everything we to get them home. We can to get them home. Asylum seekers have returned to the bibby stockholm in portland port, despite activists attempting to prevent it from happening. A Just Stop Oil protesters obstructed a coach carrying migrants holding banners that read no prison ships and demand humanity. All 39 people were removed from the barge in august after legionella bacteria was discovered. More bacteria was discovered. More than 400 homes have been asked to evacuate in the scottish town of brighton in preparation for the arrival of storm babet. A red weather warning has been issued, meaning there is a risk to life with extensive flooding and winds stronger than 70 miles and winds stronger than 70 miles an hour, forecast at and on next months mtv Europe Music Awards in paris have been cancelled due to security concerns amid the ongoing conflict in israel and gaza. A taylor swift eight. Olivia rodrigo bad bunny and the foo fighters were to be among the nominees for the event in paris. Organisers have cited the volatility of world events. France is currently on its highest security alert level after the murder of a School Teacher in a suspected islamist attack last week. Well this is gb news on tv , on digital radio, gb news on tv, on digital radio, and on your smart speaker, too. Thats it for the moment. Now its back to. Jacob its back to. Jacob this was the Prime Minister, rishi sunak, speaking to the president of israel earlier today. First and foremost, i wanted to express my solidarity with you and your country after you have suffered something unspeakable, a barbaric act of terrorism. And to your last point, we should call it what it is, an act of terrorism perpetrated by an evil terrorist organisation on hamas. Thats what i believe and thats what we will continue to say to terrorism perpetrated by an evil terrorist organisation , hamas. And this was the leader of the opposition speaking last week on the matter. Week on the matter. Real sense of deep anxiety, obviously in relation to the events in israel, the appalling, shocking events , as you know, shocking events, as you know, cold blooded murder of men, women and children in and its terrorism and hamas bears the responsibility for its terrorism and hamas bears the responsibility. Us President Joe Biden said last week the brutal ity of hamas is bloodthirstiness brings to mind the worst, the worst rampages of isis. This is terrorism. But sadly this is terrorism. But sadly for the jewish people, its not. This is terrorism. Even a spokesman for his majesty the king said his majesty the king said his majesty is appalled by and condemns the barbaric act of terrorism in israel. Donald trump James Cleverly david lammy just about every respectable person or institution seems willing to call this brutal act what it is terrorism. But the pubuc what it is terrorism. But the Public Service broadcaster paid for by you , is unwilling to do for by you, is unwilling to do this. And two people were tragically killed in brussels this week. The bbc was willing to call it terrorism. And in the past the bbc has been willing to use the term terror attack to in 2017, when a terrorist killed civilians on Westminster Bridge and a policeman outside parliament. The bbc rightly called it a terror attack. In the 2015 paris bataclan attack. The 2015 paris bataclan attack. The bbc called it a terror attack , too. So when Terrorists Attack, too. So when Terrorists Attack, too. So when Terrorists Attack london, paris or brussels, its terrorism. But brussels, its terrorism. But when its israel, its not. Not. And im afraid this points to something very undesirable. At the bbc during discussion on bbc arabic last week, this happened. Arabic last week, this happened. Why im in tel abib Mohammed Kabir , a man for malcolm. Kabir, a man for malcolm. Hamas. Who sunak of insani al hamas. Who sunak of insani al shana hamas. Who sunak of insani al sharia al islam mo mowlam depher. From catalonias ozal breaffy to him and catalonia. Anis to him and catalonia. Anis parkmobile gaza mohammed. Parkmobile gaza mohammed. In this clip the bbc host was trying to defend the massacre of 1200 people by comparing it to israels attempt to defeat terrorist. The Public Service terrorist. The Public Service broadcaster is trying to create an equivalence between a Democratic State and terrorism. The bbc has just taken several middle east journalists off air for alleged social media activity, including including liking posts of dead israeli bodies. Why should anyone bodies. Why should anyone remotely sympathetic to israel and its situation be forced to continue to pay the licence fee when the bbcs middle east journalists mislead viewers about israels actions , when its about israels actions, when its staff show their true colours on social media, appearing to support or least sympathise support or at least sympathise with terror group. It with a terror group. And when it cant tell truth about cant tell the truth about hamas. , i want to hear hamas. Of course, i want to hear from you. Let me know your thoughts via mail. Margaret gb news dot com. Well, joining me now is roger bolton, former bbc editor presenter. Roger, editor and presenter. Roger, thank you very much for joining me. Why has the bbc so stubbornly decided not to call what hamas did terrorism . What hamas did terrorism . Well, can i just say that thats an extraordinary interest. There are a whole range of brilliant, brave bbc journalist , brilliant, brave bbc journalist, these two said jeremy bowen and working flat out in dangerous circumstances to report fairly. Circumstances to report fairly. Now, in these circumstances , the now, in these circumstances, the bbc will make mistakes for which theyve apologised. But for you to categorise the bbc, i dont work. They fired me twice in this way is totally unfair and unrepresentative. Having said unrepresentative. Having said that , the unrepresentative. Having said that, the problem, the problem is bbc has folded. It has called is bbc has folded. It has called these acts of terror. But is worried about calling the Organisation Organisation is where do you stop . What do you call the Chinese Government when its treating the uyghurs in the way they are, what youve called the burmese and now formerly burmese government . The way its behaving, what do you call the uganda government what uganda government with what its doing . Is to doing . The bbcs job is to report fairly and objectively where it gets it wrong. You pointed out it should apologise when it gets it wrong, but it has described it. Has described it. It it did get it wrong yesterday when it said that the hospital must have been or was most likely to have been bombed by israel, which now seems extremely unlikely. And this stubborn ness on the word terrorism in its first report, thatis terrorism in its first report, that is what it said. And i mean, Tom Tugendhat went through this very clearly on the today programme this morning. Sorry, jacob, im sorry to interrupt, but he did correct that. It makes mistakes, it must correct it. But for you to categorise that single mistake as being representative of the reporting , anybody who listens reporting, anybody who listens to the today programme knows thatis to the today programme knows that is not true. That is not true. That mistake is very important when it ties in with the refusal to call terrorism terrorism. Its trying to equate a democratic government with a terrorist organisation and treat their claims equally , which their claims equally, which cant be sensible. Journalism well, its sensible journalism to report what you know, to be fact and to seek alternative and other views, and thatis alternative and other views, and that is what the bbc does. Look, ive heard bbc say of those what happenedin ive heard bbc say of those what happened in israel is terrorism. And so they should call it that. But just like the ira 30 or 40 years ago, you know, they committed terrorist acts, but they militant republicans. They were militant republicans. What the bbc as well and what the bbc is concerned about is they want the bbc wants people to believe what they say. And theyre addressing those people who dont want to be what they say. So the bbc starts reporting, saying this is a terrorist organisation. Those terrorist organisation. Those people who perhaps support hamas might be thinking of it will say , 0h, might be thinking of it will say , oh, well look, theres a bbc. We cant believe a word they say. Its probably sensible for the roger to report the atrocities. Roger thats an extraordinary thing to say that they should be trying to appeal to people who support hamas, people who are supporting hamas have supported the murder of 1200 people, the slaughter of 1200 people. Surely thats bbc is trying thats not who the bbc is trying to appeal to. Its trying to thats not who the bbc is trying to atheal to. Its trying to thats not who the bbc is trying to athe truth its trying to thats not who the bbc is trying to athe truth that rying to thats not who the bbc is trying to athe truth that ry terrible tell the truth that a terrible act terror been committed i and jacob, theyre not trying to appeal. What theyre trying to appeal. What theyre trying to to report and get those to do is to report and get those people who do not wish to believe what hamas to believe what hamas did, to believe what hamas did, to believe what hamas did. But the other thing youve got to remember, of course, in these circumstances is that theres a war going on. Theres a propaganda war going on. And israel, in the past and its armed forces have not told the truth. I dont thats why it was so important when it got it wrong on the hospital as an immediate thought was done thought that it was done by israel. Was a terrible israel. That was a terrible mistake. It wasnt just a minor error in all of your saying they should have waited, they should have been more patient, but they called it as israel straight away. Away. Yes, they should have waited. It was a mistake, but they corrected it as soon as possible. Now have gone on since correcting whereas you seem correcting it. Whereas you seem to that the bbc a position to say that the bbc a position it isnt all right. Well, thank you, roger. Im now joined by john mayer, the former bbc Current Affairs producer and author of multiple books bbc and its licence books on the bbc and its licence fee. If people are offended by the bbcs failure to call terrorism terrorism, theres nothing they can do. Is there . If they want to carry on watching television, they cant cancel their licence fee. Jacob good evening. You need to watch a bit more tv and not appear on it so often. Then youd actually have a more balanced view of everything you know, the bbc is a universal world service. It broadcasts 24 world service. It broadcasts 24 over 7 in 43 languages every day about that war. Whats the story . Is the story about the war or the terrorism . Well , the story is about the well, the story is about the terrorism, but its also about the fact that many people in this country who are compelled to pay a licence fee and are penalised if they refuse to pay it, are finding that the bbc is not calling terrorism terrorism, which is deeply offensive. Jacob jacob, after your programme, sit down and watch television. You know they get good value for it. They get a universal service. Yes, they get radio, tv and everything. But why cant i decide that . Why . Should i have pay why . Why should i have to pay a compulsory fee . Reportedly seeing coming reportedly im seeing coming out of israel is pretty superb. As much as my former boss, roger bolton, said. Ive seen seriously reporting and seriously superb reporting and the bbc is the only broadcaster to have have a reporter in in gaza at the moment. What do itv and the sky called hamas do . They call them terrorists . The bbc is the only one that is compulsorily funded. Thats the difference. Its taxpayer funded. If you dont watch sky or itv, theyre advertising revenues go down. Theyre not forced to be funded by people who are actually quite offended that theyre not calling terrorists terrorists. Jacob what do what do sky and itn well, this is completely irrelevant because theyre not a state broadcaster are funded by taxation. Thats the point is why should people pay for an organisation of the bbc that wont even join the king who has called Hamas Terrorists . There called Hamas Terrorists . There we go. We go. You know, look, this is this is a whole pack of hyaenas like you who go around looking for bbc causes. This is just the latest one of them. You dont like the bbc, you dont like the licence. Well suck it. You know, most people do. I dont. I dont dislike the bbc. I do dislike the licence fee because its a compulsion on people who dont necessarily want to watch it. And find that the bbc is entrench the views and attitudes are not theirs. And this failure , this and this failure, this stubbornness, not to call a massacre of 1200 people terrorism is really extraordinary. Me so why do the palestinians paint the bbc red . Last weekend . Paint the bbc red . Last weekend . Why were the israelis protesting outside the bbc . You know, is the bbc getting it right if both of those people are complaining about them . You know , how are about them . You know, how are you going to finance the bbc . Just you just think it is just you know, just think it is an objective report and as roger said, doing good objective reporting on the wars because it got it wrong when it accused israel of having blown up the hospital, when all the evidence now seems show it was now seems to show that it was hamas rocket that failed and that bbcs immediate that the bbcs Immediate Reaction was to blame israel. Reaction was to blame israel. That was the initial instinct of the bbc. As you said in your introduction, jacob, the bbcs, i think suspended some of the staff in bbc arabic as a result of some of their behaviour. So it does show that the bbc corrects self corrects all the ti me corrects self corrects all the time. So you know, its not time. So you know, its not a monolith, you know, theyre interested in the truth. So why doesnt it correct this and just call what hamas did terrorism . Because that would really settle this and it would really settle this and it would put the bbc in a much stronger position, even though if israel if israel commits a horrific acts in the next few weeks will call the israeli state terrorists as well. Well, state terrorists as well. Well, this is highly speculative. Israel hasnt done that. And israel hasnt done that. And israel hasnt done that. And israel has a right of self defence in International Law. So this is an entirely separate speculation as far as im jacob. Hamas is an elected government in gaza. Government in gaza. This this is really the issue , isnt it, that you and the bbc and i know you no longer work there think that hamas and israel are equivalent . Oh, no , israel are equivalent . Oh, no, no, we dont. I mean, you know, i think what went on on the 7th of october was absolutely discussed in, know, horrific acts, in, you know, horrific acts, horrific acts. Do you think it was terrorism worldwide . A worldwide broadcaster its a worldwide broadcaster and do you think its terrorism now asking you personally just to finish, do you think its terrorism . Oh, no. Oh, no. I think its horrific. I dont think its terrorism. You dont think its terrorism . Thank you very much, john. There you go. The voice no longer for the bbc, but longer working for the bbc, but giving into the giving a good insight into the bbc. Dont forget, let me know your thoughts, mail