Historian rebukes Sky News on ‘shameful complicity in war crimes’ over Lebanon coverage

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Last Updated on 2 June 2026 by The Canary



Lebanon

British historian William Dalrymple has sharply rebuked Sky News, accusing the outlet of “shameful complicity in war crimes” after it characterized Israel’s war on Lebanon as “taking a much tougher stance” rather than the “ethnic cleansing of one quarter of a neighbouring state.”

Adam Parsons, the Sky News correspondent, had used the words “taking a much tougher stance,” and tried to argue with Dalrymple and defend US/Israeli war crimes by saying:

“Ethnic cleansing” is not an expression that should be chucked around. Everyone is entitled to an opinion, but smart people – and I would have imagined William Dalrymple was smart – would know the difference between their opinions and incredibly complex, difficult definitions.
Parsons, who is happy to whitewash war crimes, is scared of expressions being “chucked around.”

Lebanon: Dalrymple steps in

Thankfully, Dalrymple proceeded to school the “morally bankrupt” journalist correctly.
The historian explained it plainly that over one in five people in Lebanon have been forced from their homes, and Israel’s own leaders have said that they will demolish villages, prevent displaced people, mostly Shia, from ever returning, and create a permanent security zone inside Lebanon.
He pointed out that under international law, deliberately displacing a religious group and making their return impossible amounts to ethnic cleansing:

The historian is explaining to a Western brainwashed journalist what ethnic cleansing is. Of course, he knows, the blindness is wilful.

 Western media appears to celebrate Israel’s illegality

The corporate Western media have been celebrating Israel’s illegal actions in Lebanon recently.

The Associated Press, CNN, Financial Times, and Reuters all used words such as “seized”, “strategic”, “major advance”, and “expands” to describe Israel’s illegal invasion and occupation, all of which are war crimes, especially its stealing of the Qal’at al-Shaqif Castle in southern Lebanon.

Irish Journalist Steve Sweeney, who was recently almost killed by Israel, said that Parsons’ view was representative of the role of Western media in covering the ethnic cleansing in Lebanon and the genocide in Gaza.

It’s indeed not complex, Parsons. Like Dalrymple said, you have just lost your remaining shreds of integrity as a journalist.

Featured image via X

By The Canary



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