THE BBC has issued a grovelling apology after being accused of releasing Hamas propaganda with a new documentary on the conflict in Gaza.
The broadcaster was flooded with furious calls to pull its hour-long documentary Gaza: How to Survive a Warzone which aired on Monday.
BBCThe main narrator of the BBC’s Gaza documentary, 13-year-old Abdullah Eliyazour, is claimed to be the son of Hamas official Dr Ayman Al-Yazouri[/caption]
Hamas deputy minister of agriculture Dr Ayman Al-Yazouri, is said to be Abdullah’s father
BBCA scathing letter called for the documentary to be pulled from all platforms[/caption]
ReutersThe documentary tells the experiences of the conflict in Gaza from the perspective of children in the safe zone[/caption]
It tells the story of the devastating conflict since the October 7 attack on Israel through the eyes of children living in the war-torn city.
But the Beeb was accused of being a “propaganda tool for Hamas” when it was claimed that the main narrator — 13-year-old Abdulla Eliyazouri — is the son of Hamas deputy minister of agriculture Dr Ayman Al-Yazouri.
In a statement on Thursday, the BBC said: “Since the transmission of our documentary on Gaza, the BBC has become aware of the family connections of the film’s narrator, a child called Abdullah.
“We’ve promised our audiences the highest standards of transparency, so it is only right that as a result of this new information, we add some more detail to the film before its retransmission.
“We apologise for the omission of that detail from the original film.”
The BBC revealed that the additional text added to the film will state: “The narrator of this film is 13 year old Abdullah.
“His father has worked as a deputy agriculture minister for the Hamas-run government in Gaza.
“The production team had full editorial control of filming with Abdullah.”
“We followed all of our usual compliance procedures in the making of this film, but we had not been informed of this information by the independent producers when we complied and then broadcast the finished film,” the statement added.
“The film remains a powerful child’s eye view of the devastating consequences of the war in Gaza which we believe is an invaluable testament to their experiences, and we must meet our commitment to transparency.”
Investigative journalist David Collier, who revealed the identities of those involved, said: “How did the BBC let a son of a Hamas minister walk around looking for sympathy and demonising Israel for an hour in a documentary?
“The BBC is publishing Hamas propaganda.
“The current hierarchy at the BBC has turned a once respected state broadcaster into a propaganda outlet for a radical Islamic terror group.”
One of the cameramen from the doc is said to have previously posted messages saluting the October 7 massacre and videos showing off Hamas weapons.
London-based directors Jamie Roberts and Yousef Hammash made their documentary remotely by hiring and instructing two local cameramen as they captured the realities of the “safe zone”.
The Beeb’s apology comes after a scathing letter was sent by EastEnders actress Tracy-Ann Oberman, Strike producer Neil Blair, ex- BBC One controller Danny Cohen and producer Leo Pearlman.
It was addressed to BBC director-general Tim Davie, the BBC’s chief content officer Charlotte Moore and BBC News chief executive Deborah Turness, highlighting the claims about Abdullah.
They said: “Given the serious nature of these concerns, the BBC should immediately postpone any broadcast repeats of the programme, remove it from iPlayer and take down any social media clips of the programme until an independent investigation is carried out and its findings published with full transparency for licence-fee payers.
“Can the BBC confirm it will take this action?”
The letter further questioned the editorial standards of the programme and of the corporation’s compliance with Ofcom regulations, its own editorial guidelines and English law.
What happened on October 7?
ON OCTOBER 7, 2023, Hamas launched a brutal surprise attack on Israel, marking one of the darkest days in the nation’s history.
Terrorists stormed across the border from Gaza, killing over 1,200 people — most of them civilians — and kidnapping 250 others, including women, children, and the elderly.
The coordinated assault saw heavily armed fighters infiltrate Israeli towns, kibbutzim, and military bases, unleashing indiscriminate violence.
Innocent families were slaughtered in their homes, and graphic footage of the atrocities spread across social media, leaving the world in shock.
And as well as attacking people in their homes, they stormed the Nova music peace festival – killing at least 364 people there alone.
The massacre triggered a swift and massive retaliatory response from Israel, escalating into a full-scale war.
The attack not only reignited long-standing tensions in the region but also left deep scars on both sides of the conflict, setting the stage for the 16 months of devastation that followed.
The group added: “Was it known to the BBC that the narrator and principal contributor of the documentary, Abdullah Al-Yazouri, is the son of a senior leader of the proscribed terrorist group, Hamas?
“If the BBC was aware that Abdullah Al-Yazouri was the son of a terrorist leader, why was this not disclosed to audiences during the programme?
“If the BBC was not aware that Abdullah Al-Yazouri is the son of a terrorist leader, what diligence checks were undertaken and why did they fail?”
Concerns were also raised about whether the child’s parents signed a release for him to feature in the programme and if they were given permission by Hamas to create the documentary.
Abdullah has previously featured in a Channel 4 report in November 2023, soon after Israel’s bombardment of Gaza began.
He appeared under a different name with a man called Khalil Abushammala, who was said to be his father.
BBCThe BBC’s apology showed what new text will feature on the documentary to give clarification on Abdullah[/caption]
Abdulla also appeared on C4 in 2023 under a different name with a man who claimed to be his father, but who’s said to be his uncle, Khalil Abushammala
BBC10-year-old Renad featured in the documentary showing how she distracts herself with her TikTok cooking channel[/caption]
BBC11-year-old Zakaria started volunteering in the region in any way he could especially with the injured[/caption]
But Abushammala is actually his uncle and director of a group which campaigns for Palestinian prisoners.
It has links to the terror group Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), according to Collier.
The PFLP took part in the October 7 attacks alongside Hamas.
The latest documentary was produced by Hoyo Films which has previously made the BBC documentary Ukraine: Enemy In The Woods.
This was filmed by Ukrainian soldiers amid the ongoing war with Russia.
The inside look into the conflict in Gaza offers viewers a unique perspective into the war, not just from a child’s point of view, but also because international journalists have been banned from the region.
And according to the Committee to Protect Journalists, at least 170 journalists and media workers have been killed in the war since it began – at least 11 of these were allegedly targeted by Israeli forces.
In the Beeb’s documentary, the children detail the changes they have seen to their city.
Abdullah who took a more central role in the narration showed the rubble that used to be a house that he lived in with 40 others in Khan Younis before it was bombed.
“This area used to be colourful. Now, it’s grey,” he said.
Meanwhile 10-year-old Renad showed how she has managed to gain a worldwide TikTok following with her online cooking channel.
The child said: “If there is too long between posting videos, they check on me, thinking I got killed.”
Meanwhile, 11-year-old Zakaria who became a volunteer for the only functioning hospital in the region was shown busily helping anyone who needs it.
When asked what was on his hands he matter-of-factly said: “Blood from the injured and the dead.”
AFPChildren have seen their whole neighbourhoods destroyed in the conflict[/caption]
ReutersThousands of Palestinians have returned to what remains of the city they knew[/caption]
‘Day of grief’
The backlash to the documentary comes as Israel confirms that the youngest hostage snatched by Hamas terrorists is dead alongside his brother and mother.
Kfir Bibas was only nine months old when he was snatched from his home on Kibbutz Nir Oz on October 7.
His then four-year-old brother Ariel and his mother Shiri Bibas, 33, were also taken in the bloody rampage and have been confirmed dead.
Across Israel, posters of the red-haired toddler clutching his pink elephant have become a painful symbol of the hostage crisis.
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum confirmed on Wednesday that all three were dead as well as hostage Oded Lifshitz, a retired journalist.
Their bodies will be returned to Israel on Thursday along with six living hostages.
Israel have yet to confirm the identities of those to be released.
The Red Cross has called for a private and dignified return of the bodies.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said: “In this difficult time, our hearts are with the grieving families.”
He added in a video statement: “Tomorrow will be a very difficult day for the State of Israel — a shocking day, a day of grief.
“We are bringing home four of our beloved abductees, who have fallen.
“We embrace the families, and the heart of an entire nation is torn apart. My heart is torn. Yours is too.”
Meanwhile, the families of the remaining hostages have expressed their pain as they hold out hope to the end that their relatives are alive and will be returned.
Ian WhittakerMum Shiri Bibas was seen desperately clutching to Kfir and his brother Ariel as they were kidnapped on October 7#[/caption]
Baby Kfir was the youngest hostage taken by Hamas
Ian WhittakerAriel was four years old when he too was snatched by terrorists[/caption]
Lifshitz Family collectionOded Lifshiz has also been confirmed dead[/caption] Published: [#item_custom_pubDate]
