The BBC has apologised and admitted to major editorial failures after airing the documentary Gaza: How to Survive a War Zone. The programme featured a 13-year-old narrator who was the son of a Hamas official. It was pulled from BBC iPlayer last week, and the corporation confirmed it will not be rebroadcast in its current form, reports BBC News.
The controversy arose after it was revealed that the documentary’s main voice, a boy named Abdullah, was the son of Hamas’s deputy minister of agriculture. The UK and several other countries have designated Hamas as a terrorist organisation.
The BBC admitted that Hoyo Films, the production company behind the documentary, had been asked multiple times about any family connections to Hamas but failed to disclose this information. Only after the documentary aired did Hoyo Films acknowledge that it was aware of the boy’s family ties.
A BBC spokesperson called this failure „unacceptable” and said it had „damaged trust in the corporation’s journalism.” The BBC Board added that while the documentary’s subject matter was legitimate, the lack of transparency and oversight had harmed the BBC’s credibility.
Hoyo Films admitted to paying the boy’s mother a limited sum, with the funds transferred via his sister’s bank account. The BBC is now conducting a full audit to ensure no money reached Hamas or its affiliates.
The controversy has drawn political scrutiny, with Prime Minister Keir Starmer expressing concern and confirming that Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has met with BBC officials. Nandy has demanded an urgent meeting with BBC Chair Samir Shah, insisting that „no stone will be left unturned” in a comprehensive review.
The BBC’s handling of the situation has also divided opinion. Over 500 media figures, including Gary Lineker, Anita Rani, and Riz Ahmed, criticised the decision to withdraw the documentary, arguing that it suppressed Palestinian voices.
The BBC’s Director-General has now fast-tracked complaints about the documentary to the Executive Complaints Unit, an independent body within the BBC. The broadcaster is also demanding financial records from Hoyo Films to ensure transparency over its budgeting and payments.
This scandal has further intensified debates over BBC editorial integrity, particularly in its coverage of the Israel-Palestine conflict. The corporation faces increasing pressure to restore public trust and tighten its vetting processes to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Photo credit: BBC/Amjad Al Fayoumi/Hoyo Films
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