BBC apologizes over Gaza documentary narrated by son of Hamas figure

The BBC apologised on Thursday for "serious flaws" in the making of a Gaza documentary after it emerged that the child narrator was the son of Hamas's former deputy minister of agriculture. (X/@Osint613)
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  • The broadcaster said that it shared the blame for the 鈥渦nacceptable鈥� flaws with the production company
  • 鈥淏BC News takes full responsibility for these and the impact that these have had on the Corporation鈥檚 reputation. We apologize鈥�

LONDON: The BBC apologized on Thursday for 鈥渟erious flaws鈥� in the making of a Gaza documentary after it emerged that the child narrator was the son of Hamas鈥檚 former deputy minister of agriculture.
The BBC removed its documentary, 鈥淕aza: How To Survive A Warzone,鈥� from its platform after a backlash and launched an immediate review into the 鈥渕istakes,鈥� which it called 鈥渟ignificant and damaging.鈥�
The BBC said in a press release published Thursday that the review had identified 鈥渟erious flaws in the making of this program,鈥� which was produced by UK company Hoyo Films.
The broadcaster said that it shared the blame for the 鈥渦nacceptable鈥� flaws with the production company.
鈥淏BC News takes full responsibility for these and the impact that these have had on the Corporation鈥檚 reputation. We apologize,鈥� it added.

The independent production company was asked in writing 鈥渁 number of times鈥� during the making of the documentary about any potential connections the narrator might have with Hamas.
鈥淪ince transmission, they have acknowledged that they knew that the boy鈥檚 father was a deputy agriculture minister in the Hamas government; they have also acknowledged that they never told the BBC this fact,鈥� said the press release.
鈥淚t was then the BBC鈥檚 own failing that we did not uncover that fact and the documentary was aired.鈥�
The production company also revealed that they paid the boy鈥檚 mother 鈥渁 limited sum of money鈥� for the narration.
The BBC is seeking additional assurance that no money was paid directly or indirectly to Hamas.
UK culture minister Lisa Nandy told parliament earlier Thursday that she had demanded 鈥渃ast-iron鈥� guarantees that Hamas did not receive any money for the documentary after the opposition Conservative party brought an urgent question and called for a public inquiry.
鈥淚 also held discussions with the BBC director general earlier this week, at my request, in order to seek urgent answers about the checks and due diligence that should have been carried out,鈥� she added.
The revelations sparked an angry response and led to protests outside the BBC鈥檚 London headquarters.
A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism (CAA) said: 鈥淭he BBC鈥檚 bias and lack of accountability have led it to a new low, where it is a mouthpiece for terrorists and their supporters.鈥�
The Telegraph also reported Tuesday that the Arabic words for Jew or Jews were changed to Israel or Israeli forces or removed from the documentary.
The broadcaster is now working to determine whether any disciplinary action is warranted 鈥渋n relation to shortcomings in the making of this program.鈥�
鈥淭his will include issues around the use of language, translation and continuity that have also been raised with the BBC,鈥� it said.
The decision to remove the documentary from its catch-up service also led to criticism, with more than 500 TV and film workers 鈥� including former England footballer Gary Lineker 鈥� sending an open letter calling the move 鈥減olitically-motivated censorship.鈥�
鈥淭his 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,鈥� said the letter.
The documentary was initially broadcast on February 17.