US EditionBBC breached editorial guidelines over Gaza documentary narrated by son of Hamas official
UNITED KINGDOM, JUL 12 – An internal BBC review found that the independent production company failed to disclose the narrator’s family ties to Hamas, causing a breach of accuracy guidelines and removal of the documentary.
- The BBC acknowledged a major editorial failing in its documentary 'Gaza: How to Survive a Warzone,' as it violated accuracy guidelines by not disclosing the narrator's father's ties to Hamas.
- The review revealed that three members of HOYO Films were aware of the father's position, while BBC staff were not.
- BBC Director-General Tim Davie expressed regret over the documentary's inaccuracies and stated, 'I am sorry for this failing.'
- The BBC has no plans for future collaborations with HOYO Films.
48 Articles
48 Articles
The documentary reporter was son of Hamas' director and information was not reflected in the work. Internal report concluded that editorial guidelines were in question, not incompatibility.
Review Finds BBC Breached Guidelines Over Gaza Documentary Narrated by Son of Hamas Official
The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) breached editorial guidelines on accuracy after failing to disclose that a documentary on the Gaza Strip was narrated by the son of a Hamas official, an internal review found. “Gaza: How To Survive A Warzone” was produced by independent production company HOYO Films and aired on BBC Two on Feb. 17, 2025. Shortly thereafter, an investigation was opened when it emerged that the child narrator, Abdullah, i…
The BBC announced that it is taking several steps to prevent a similar scenario from happening again.
BBC wrong to use child narrator for Gaza documentary, review finds
The BBC’s self-review has found using a child narrator for a Gaza documentary was “wrong” as an editorial concept, after confirming the boy is the son of a Hamas official. The BBC’s documentary, Gaza: How To Survive A Warzone, was pulled from iPlayer in February after it emerged that its 13-year-old narrator is the son of the deputy minister of agriculture in Gaza. A self-conducted review of the documentary, created with production company Hoyo …
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