The BBC has admitted to major editorial failures in its documentary Gaza: How to Survive a War Zone. The broadcaster removed the documentary from iPlayer after discovering that the 13-year-old narrator was the son of a Hamas official.
The BBC acknowledged “unacceptable” mistakes in the production. It stated that both the BBC and Hoyo Films, the production company, made serious errors. The corporation said it “takes full responsibility” for the impact on its reputation.
A BBC spokesperson confirmed that the broadcaster had “no plans to broadcast the programme again in its current form or return it to iPlayer.”
Concerns Over Narrator’s Family Ties
The documentary featured a Palestinian boy named Abdullah as the main voice. However, investigations revealed that his father is Hamas’s deputy minister of agriculture. The UK considers Hamas a terrorist organization.
The BBC revealed that it had asked Hoyo Films multiple times if the narrator had connections to Hamas. The company never disclosed this information.
“It was the BBC’s own failing that we did not uncover that fact before airing the documentary,” the statement said.
Read: Israel Limits Worship at Al-Aqsa Mosque During Ramadan
Payments Made to Narrator’s Family
Hoyo Films admitted to paying the boy’s mother a small amount for his narration. The payment was made through his sister’s bank account. The BBC assured that no payments were made to Hamas or its affiliates. However, it has ordered a full financial audit of the film’s production.
BBC Faces Internal Review and Criticism
The BBC’s Board met to discuss the controversy. The Board stated that while the topic of the documentary was legitimate, trust and transparency in journalism were more important.
The corporation confirmed that its Director-General had ordered complaints about the documentary to be handled by the Executive Complaints Unit, which operates separately from BBC News.
Backlash Over the Documentary’s Removal
The BBC’s decision to pull the documentary has sparked backlash. Over 500 journalists and media figures, including Gary Lineker, Anita Rani, and Riz Ahmed, signed an open letter criticizing the move.
They accused the BBC of censoring Palestinian voices and bowing to external pressure. Hoyo Films also defended the documentary, stating that it aimed to highlight voices not often represented in media.
Government and Public Response
Prime Minister Keir Starmer expressed concerns about the documentary. He confirmed that the Secretary of State had discussed the matter with the BBC.
The controversy has reignited debates over the BBC’s handling of sensitive global issues. Critics argue that the broadcaster applies double standards when reporting on conflicts.
BBC’s Next Steps
The BBC has not confirmed whether a revised version of the documentary will be released. It has launched an internal review to assess its editorial processes.
For now, Gaza: How to Survive a War Zone remains unavailable. The corporation faces growing pressure to ensure its reporting meets the highest standards of accuracy and fairness.
Follow us on Google News, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook,Whats App, and TikTok for latest updates