What is the BBC Gaza documentary controversy – more pro-Israel bias?
It seems the BBC has been asked to take the documentary Gaza: How To Survive A Warzone down from iPlayer after it was discovered that the film’s 13-year-old narrator, Abdullah, is the son of a minister in Gaza’s Hamas-run government, raising fears that it may be a vehicle for Hamas propaganda.
Does it, though?
If not, there’s no reason to block it – unless those making the request are simply trying to prevent the screening of a film that criticises Israel’s genocide.
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The BBC itself says that it was not made aware of Abdullah’s relationship to Gaza agriculture minister Ayman Alyazouri until after the film was broadcast on BBC2 on Monday (February 17, 2025) – and insists that it had full editorial control of the filming.
This implies that the film complies with the BBC’s due diligence responsibilities and adheres to editorial standards and Ofcom rules – meaning there should be no reason to deny members of the public the opportunity to see it.
And you can see it – here.
One last point: while Hamas is rightly proscribed in the UK as a terrorist organisation, Ayman Alyazouri is its agriculture minister, and This Writer is not convinced that guns and knives are the best tools for farming. It seems more likely to me that he would have them hammered into ploughshares, as the saying goes.
He might be a rabid murderer of innocents, for all I know – but his job title suggests otherwise and I think some people should hold off on their condemnatory judgments until they have some evidence to support them.
Meanwhile, a whistleblower at the BBC has claimed that the Corporation has direct instructions to safeguard Israel’s image:
So if there is any bias, where do you think it lies – in whose favour?
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BBC Gaza documentary controversy – more pro-Israel bias?
What is the BBC Gaza documentary controversy – more pro-Israel bias?
It seems the BBC has been asked to take the documentary Gaza: How To Survive A Warzone down from iPlayer after it was discovered that the film’s 13-year-old narrator, Abdullah, is the son of a minister in Gaza’s Hamas-run government, raising fears that it may be a vehicle for Hamas propaganda.
Does it, though?
If not, there’s no reason to block it – unless those making the request are simply trying to prevent the screening of a film that criticises Israel’s genocide.
Buy Cruel Britannia in print here. Buy the Cruel Britannia ebook here. Or just click on the image!
The BBC itself says that it was not made aware of Abdullah’s relationship to Gaza agriculture minister Ayman Alyazouri until after the film was broadcast on BBC2 on Monday (February 17, 2025) – and insists that it had full editorial control of the filming.
This implies that the film complies with the BBC’s due diligence responsibilities and adheres to editorial standards and Ofcom rules – meaning there should be no reason to deny members of the public the opportunity to see it.
And you can see it – here.
One last point: while Hamas is rightly proscribed in the UK as a terrorist organisation, Ayman Alyazouri is its agriculture minister, and This Writer is not convinced that guns and knives are the best tools for farming. It seems more likely to me that he would have them hammered into ploughshares, as the saying goes.
He might be a rabid murderer of innocents, for all I know – but his job title suggests otherwise and I think some people should hold off on their condemnatory judgments until they have some evidence to support them.
Meanwhile, a whistleblower at the BBC has claimed that the Corporation has direct instructions to safeguard Israel’s image:
So if there is any bias, where do you think it lies – in whose favour?
Vox Political needs your help!
If you want to support this site
(but don’t want to give your money to advertisers)
you can make a one-off donation here:
Be among the first to know what’s going on! Here are the ways to manage it:
1) Register with us by clicking on ‘Subscribe’ (bottom right of the home page). You can then receive notifications of every new article that is posted here.
2) Follow VP on Twitter @VoxPolitical
3) Like the Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/VoxPolitical/
Join the Vox Political Facebook page.
4) You could even make Vox Political your homepage at http://voxpoliticalonline.com
5) Follow Vox Political writer Mike Sivier on BlueSky
6) Join the MeWe page at https://mewe.com/p-front/voxpolitical
7) Feel free to comment!
And do share with your family and friends – so they don’t miss out!
If you have appreciated this article, don’t forget to share it using the buttons at the bottom of this page. Politics is about everybody – so let’s try to get everybody involved!
Buy Vox Political books so we can continue
fighting for the facts.
Cruel Britannia is available
in either print or eBook format here:
The Livingstone Presumption is available
in either print or eBook format here:
Health Warning: Government! is now available
in either print or eBook format here:
The first collection, Strong Words and Hard Times,
is still available in either print or eBook format here:
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