The BBC has removed a Gaza-focused documentary from iPlayer after facing mounting criticism over its failure to disclose that the child narrator’s father was a Hamas deputy minister.
Why was the documentary pulled?
The film, Gaza: How to Survive a Warzone, aimed to highlight the experiences of children living through conflict. However, after its broadcast on BBC Two, questions arose about whether it lacked crucial context.
Critics argued that the documentary failed to mention that 14-year-old Abdullah—who narrates the programme—is the son of Ayman al-Yazouri, a Hamas deputy minister for agriculture.
Initially, the BBC planned to add additional context and keep the film on iPlayer. However, after intense scrutiny, they opted to take it down for further “due diligence.”
BBC under fire
Former BBC One controller Danny Cohen led calls for transparency, questioning whether any Hamas members—part of a proscribed terrorist organisation in the UK—were paid in the making of the documentary.
Cohen slammed the omission as a “failure of basic programme standards”, stating:
“It appears that children have been manipulated by terrorists.”
Meanwhile, a letter signed by 45 prominent Jewish journalists, actors, and media figures—including former BBC governor Ruth Deech and Friday Night Dinner star Tracy-Ann Oberman—demanded the programme be immediately taken down pending an independent investigation.
Defence of the film
Supporters of the documentary, including the International Centre of Justice for Palestinians, criticised the backlash.
In a statement, the organisation argued that Abdullah’s family ties “do not negate his lived experience” or his right to tell his story.
The film, based on nine months of observational footage, features Palestinians openly criticising Hamas, and has been praised for its raw, first-hand perspective on life in Gaza.
Government weighs in
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has now stepped into the row, confirming she will raise concerns with the BBC about how they sourced participants for the documentary.
Nandy acknowledged the BBC’s efforts to balance coverage, saying:
“They’ve been attacked for being too pro-Gaza, they’ve been attacked for being anti-Gaza.”
However, pressure continues to mount as the broadcaster faces yet another editorial crisis.
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