BBC issues apology for Gaza documentary narrated by son of Hamas leader

The BBC issued an apology on Thursday for "serious flaws" in the production of a Gaza documentary after it was revealed that the child narrator was the son of Hamas's former deputy minister of agriculture.

Following backlash, the BBC removed the documentary, Gaza: How To Survive A Warzone, from its platform and launched an immediate review into what it described as "significant and damaging" mistakes.

In a press release, the BBC acknowledged "serious flaws in the making of this programme," which was produced by UK-based Hoyo Films, and shared responsibility for the "unacceptable" issues with the production company.

"BBC News takes full responsibility for these and the impact that these have had on the Corporation's reputation. We apologise," the statement read.

The independent production company was repeatedly asked during the documentary’s production about any potential ties the narrator might have with Hamas. However, it later admitted that it knew the boy's father had served as Hamas's deputy agriculture minister but did not disclose this information to the BBC.

"It was then the BBC's own failing that we did not uncover that fact and the documentary was aired," the broadcaster said.

Backlash and Political Response

The production company also disclosed that the boy's mother received "a limited sum of money" for the narration. The BBC is now seeking further assurances that no payments were made directly or indirectly to Hamas.

UK Culture Minister Lisa Nandy told Parliament that she had demanded "cast-iron" guarantees that Hamas did not receive funds from the documentary, following calls for a public inquiry from the opposition Conservative Party.

The controversy led to protests outside the BBC's London headquarters. Campaign Against Antisemitism (CAA) criticized the broadcaster, stating: "The BBC's bias and lack of accountability have led it to a new low, where it is a mouthpiece for terrorists and their supporters."

Additionally, The Telegraph reported that the Arabic words for "Jew" or "Jews" had been altered to "Israel" or "Israeli forces" or removed entirely from the documentary.

The BBC is now assessing whether disciplinary action is necessary regarding "shortcomings in the making of this programme," including concerns about language, translation, and editorial standards.

Censorship Debate

The decision to remove the documentary sparked criticism, with over 500 TV and film industry figures—including former England footballer Gary Lineker—signing an open letter calling it "politically motivated censorship."

"This film is an essential piece of journalism, offering an all-too-rare perspective on the lived experiences of Palestinian children living in unimaginable circumstances, which amplifies voices so often silenced," the letter stated.

The documentary originally aired on February 17.