An open letter reportedly signed by more than one hundred BBC employees demands that the BBC allow them to do their jobs and report “without fear or favour” when it comes to Israel.
“We believe the refusal to broadcast the documentary ‘Gaza: Medics Under Fire’ is just one in a long line of agenda driven decisions,” they write.
“We understand that a decision not to broadcast the investigation has been taken by senior BBC management despite the film’s content being signed off in accordance with BBC guidelines and editorial policy. This appears to be a political decision and is not reflective of the journalism in the film. A recent statement from the BBC said broadcasting the film ‘risked creating the perception of partiality.’ This illustrates precisely what many of us have experienced first hand: an organisation that is crippled by the fear of being perceived as critical of the Israeli government,” the letter states. “We are not asking the BBC to take a side. We are asking to be allowed to do our jobs in delivering facts transparently and with due context.”
Anti-Palestinian racism defines the BBC’s coverage of Israel, including the role of Sir Robbie Gibb, who led a consortium to buy the Jewish Chronicle in 2022. “We are concerned that an individual with close ties to the Jewish Chronicle, an outlet that has repeatedly published anti-Palestinian and often racist content, has a say in the BBC’s editorial decisions in any capacity, including the decision not to broadcast ‘Gaza: Medics Under Fire,’” the letter states.
“Since October 2023 it has become increasingly clear to our audiences that the BBC’s reporting on Israel/Palestine falls short of our own editorial standards,” write the journalists. “All too often it has felt that the BBC has been performing PR for the Israeli government and military.”
