Gaza documentary was a ‘dagger to the heart’ of BBC’s claim to be impartial, corporation chief admits

THE Gaza documentary was a “dagger to the heart” of the BBC’s claim to be impartial, corporation bosses admitted today.

Under-pressure Beeb chairman Samir Shah described the scandal surrounding the film as a “really, really bad moment”.

PABBC director general Tim Davie answers questions at the Culture, Media and Sport Committee in the House of Commons[/caption]

PATim Davie (left) and BBC chairman Samir Shah were pressed on the scandal surrounding a Gaza documentary, which was narrated by the son of a senior Hamas terrorist[/caption]

Director General Tim Davie added that there is “a lot of frustration and disappointment” that Gaza: How to Survive a Warzone has taken a sledge hammer to public trust in the corporation.

Appearing before MPs on the Commons Culture, Media and Sport Committee, Mr Davie said: “Firstly, I’d say nothing’s more important than we’re trusted and we have actually built trust.

“It’s not about the BBC and people like myself, but we’re very sorry to the audience, because we don’t want to be in a position where we have flaws in the programme-making.

“I am proud of the way we’re covering some of these polarised, fiendishly difficult events where many of our journalists are under enormous pressure, ferocious lobbying, and it’s been extremely difficult.”

The Gaza documentary scandal has rocked the corporation, forcing BBC bosses into a grovelling apology as they admitted to “serious flaws” in the programme.

A fact-finding review is now under way but critics have blasted the BBC for “marking its own homework” and are demanding an independent probe into the fiasco.

Meanwhile, counter-terror cops are looking into whether the BBC’s documentary broke the law by paying the son of a Hamas official, who narrated the programme.

Mr Davie insisted the BBC maintains “very good” editorial standards and guidelines.

He revealed the broadcaster has received 500 complaints about the film being biased against Israel, and around 1,800 who wanted the film being put back on iPlayer.

Britain’s telly watchdog yesterday vowed to ­intervene in the BBC’s Gaza documentary probe if its internal review is not “satisfactory”.

Ofcom chief Lord Grade of Yarmouth wrote to Beeb bosses expressing concerns over the “nature of the failings” surrounding the Gaza: How to Survive a Warzone.

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