Outrage ensues as MBC channel labels Hamas leaders "terrorists"

The MBC Channel has come under fire after publishing a report that categorizes Hamas leaders as "terrorists," with many online users calling for a boycott of the channel.

In a recent report titled "Millennium of Liberation from Terrorists," MBC featured a litany of figures, Ismail Haniyeh, Saleh Al-Arouri, and Yahya Sinwar, all former heads of Hamas who were recently killed by the Israeli Occupation.

Critics pointed out that the report failed to acknowledge the Israeli Occupation's role in the assassination of these leaders and the broader context of violence, including the deaths of over 44,000 individuals in Gaza and Lebanon.

The report also referenced high-profile assassinations of leaders like Qasem Soleimani and Abu Mahdi Al-Muhandis, painting a narrative that resonated with the rhetoric of Israeli Occupation propaganda.

Hamas condemned the MBC report, accusing the channel of inciting hatred against the movement and its leaders during a time when the Palestinian people are enduring a war of extermination at the hands of the Israeli Occupation.

The movement’s statement highlighted the report as a manifestation of "yellow journalism," calling for an immediate retraction and an apology from the channel’s management.

- Protests in Iraq - 

In response to the controversial report, supporters of Iranian-backed Iraqi armed factions stormed the offices of MBC in Baghdad early Saturday morning, causing significant damage and igniting a fire within the premises.

According to a Iraqi Ministry of Interior official, between 400 and 500 individuals invaded the MBC offices just after midnight, reportedly "destroying computing equipment and setting part of the building on fire."

Civil Defense teams were dispatched to extinguish the flames while security forces worked to disperse the protesters, who had expressed their outrage over the channel's portrayal of their leaders. Initial reports indicated no arrests were made during the chaos.

Videos shared on Telegram by Sabereen News, a channel affiliated with the Iraqi resistance factions, showcased demonstrators waving flags of Lebanese Hezbollah and the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF).

In the context of rising anti-MBC sentiment, the channel's reporting has drawn scrutiny, suggesting a growing divide between media narratives and the realities faced by those resisting foreign aggression.

As protests continue, the fate of MBC's reputation hangs in the balance, overshadowed by accusations of complicity with an oppressive narrative that seeks to demonize those fighting for their rights.