THE BBC was accused of being a propaganda tool for Hamas yesterday in a furious row over a documentary.
Its prime-time Gaza: How to Survive a Warzone featured children living in the strip since the October 7 attack on Israel.
BBCThe main narrator of the BBC’s Gaza documentary, 13-year-old Abdulla 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 Abdulla’s father
BBCA cameraman for the BBC documentary is reported to have previously posted messages praising the October 7 massacre and shared videos showcasing Hamas weapons[/caption]
But the main narrator — 13-year-old Abdulla Eliyazouri — is reportedly the son of Hamas deputy minister of agriculture Dr Ayman Al-Yazouri.
And one of the cameramen is said to have previously posted messages saluting the October 7 massacre and videos showing off Hamas weapons.
The hour-long documentary was broadcast on Monday on BBC2 and is available for the next year on iPlayer.
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.”
Tory peer Baroness Foster also blasted the Beeb, saying: “A total lack of accurate research resulted in an hour of propaganda and lies.”
Abdulla 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.
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.
A BBC spokesman said: “The documentary was produced in line with our editorial guidelines and the BBC had full editorial control.
“It was edited and directed from London, as independent international journalists are not allowed into Gaza.”
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 Published: [#item_custom_pubDate]
