Counter-terrorism police are currently evaluating concerns raised regarding a BBC documentary on Gaza, which featured the son of a Hamas official as its narrator. The documentary, titled "Gaza: How To Survive A Warzone," is produced by independent company Hoyo Films, who confirmed that the child narrator, Abdullah Al-Yazouri, is the son of Ayman Alyazouri, who previously held the position of deputy minister of agriculture for Hamas.
The BBC reported that Abdullah's mother was compensated with a "limited sum of money for the narration." In light of the emerging details surrounding the documentary and its connections, a spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police indicated that the Met's Counter Terrorism Command is assessing the situation to determine the necessity of any police actions, stating, “We’re aware of a BBC documentary about Gaza and we have received a number of reports raising concerns.”
In response to the backlash, Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy held a meeting with BBC chairman Dr Samir Shah last Friday, during which she expressed the need for thorough assurances regarding the review of the documentary. Following the emergence of information regarding the child's familial ties, the BBC acknowledged the existence of "serious flaws in the making of this programme." The broadcaster has since added a disclaimer to the documentary and subsequently removed it from its online catch-up service, stating that there are no plans to rebroadcast it.
On Tuesday, protests erupted outside the BBC’s Broadcasting House in central London, organised by the Campaign Against Antisemitism, which accused the BBC of disseminating Hamas propaganda. Amidst the ongoing criticism, prominent figures such as Gary Lineker, Anita Rani, Riz Ahmed, and Miriam Margolyes were among over 500 media professionals who publicly condemned the decision to pull the documentary. They expressed their dissent in an open letter directed at the BBC’s director-general Tim Davie, chairman Dr Shah, and outgoing chief content officer Charlotte Moore, describing the removal as “politically motivated censorship.”
Source: Noah Wire Services