BBC sanctioned for failing to disclose Gaza documentary narrator's ties to Hamas

Published on 17/10/2025 - 17:40 GMT+2

Britain's media regulator sanctioned nan BBC connected Friday for a "materially misleading" documentary connected nan lives of children successful Gaza because it grounded to disclose that nan begetter of nan teen narrator held a position successful nan Hamas administration.

Regulator Ofcom said nan BBC breached nan Broadcasting Code, saying that "had nan imaginable to erode nan very precocious levels of spot audiences would person expected" successful a actual programme astir nan Israel-Gaza war.

It ordered nan BBC to make a connection astir nan findings connected its 9 p.m. newscast connected Friday evening.

"Breaches of nan codification that person resulted successful nan assemblage being materially misled person ever been considered by Ofcom to beryllium among nan astir superior that tin beryllium committed by a broadcaster, because they spell to nan bosom of nan narration of spot betwixt a broadcaster and its audience," Ofcom said.

The BBC antecedently apologised aft acknowledging "serious flaws" successful nan making of "Gaza: How To Survive A Warzone" and removed it from its online player.

It said that Ofcom's findings were successful statement pinch its soul reappraisal that recovered "significant failing" pursuing its ain accuracy guidelines. It said it would judge nan penalty.

The documentary was narrated by Abdullah, nan 13-year-old boy of Ayman Alyazouri, who worked arsenic Hamas' lawman agriculture minister.

The BBC said that nan independent accumulation company, Hoyo Films, bore nan astir work for nan nonaccomplishment because it didn't stock nan inheritance accusation regarding nan narrator's father. Hoyo Films apologised for nan lapse.

The BBC received hundreds of complaints alleging that nan documentary was biased against Israel, arsenic good arsenic hundreds much criticising nan programme's removal from its streaming service, Director General Tim Davie told lawmakers earlier this year.

A group of 500 media figures, including board Ken Loach and Mike Leigh and character Riz Ahmed, signed a missive published by Artists for Palestine UK saying a "political" run to discredit nan programme risked dehumanising Palestinian voices successful nan media.

The BBC has been nether aggravated scrutiny for its sum rubbing connected nan warfare successful Gaza.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer and others person condemned nan broadcaster for livestreaming a capacity by rap punk duo Bob Vylan, who led crowds astatine this year's Glastonbury Festival successful chanting "death" to nan Israeli military.