The BBC has issued a formal apology for its controversial documentary, “Gaza: How To Survive A Warzone,” admitting that the production contained “serious flaws.” The network confirmed that the documentary would not be aired again in its current form, nor will it be made available on iPlayer.
Produced by Hoyo Films for the BBC, the documentary has sparked widespread criticism. In its statement, the BBC recognized that both the production company and the network made “unacceptable mistakes” in the creation of the film. The BBC took full accountability for these mistakes and their negative impact on the corporation’s reputation, expressing regret and offering an apology.
Hoyo Films, the production company behind the documentary, defended the film’s intent, stating that it aimed to amplify voices that had been overlooked during the war, with the intention of portraying them “with dignity and respect.” The company assured that it is fully cooperating with the BBC to determine where errors occurred.
A BBC spokesperson added that the network had not been informed about the familial connections of a 13-year-old boy featured in the documentary, later discovered to be the son of a senior Hamas official. The BBC had raised concerns with Hoyo Films about possible links between the boy’s family and Hamas during production, but the company admitted post-broadcast that they were aware the boy’s father held the position of Deputy Agriculture Minister in the Hamas-led Gaza government. The BBC acknowledged that it failed to uncover this critical information prior to the broadcast.
Additionally, Hoyo Films informed the BBC that it had made a “limited payment” to the boy’s mother for his narration, using his sister’s bank account. While the production company insisted that no payments were made to Hamas members or affiliates, the BBC is requesting further verification and plans to carry out a full audit of the documentary’s budget, which will include a thorough review of Hoyo Films’ financial records.
The BBC stated that the issue has “damaged” public trust in its journalism, and the Director-General has called for the expedited handling of public complaints. The BBC’s Editorial Complaints Unit, which operates independently from its news division, will be reviewing the case, and a detailed fact-finding inquiry will follow. This inquiry will determine whether any editorial guidelines were breached and whether disciplinary actions are necessary.
In a separate statement, the BBC board acknowledged that the documentary’s topic was a valid subject for journalistic investigation. However, the board emphasized that trust and transparency are paramount in its work. While they acknowledged that mistakes can happen, they recognized that the errors in this instance were significant and have harmed the BBC’s reputation.
“We have no plans to broadcast the program again in its current form or return it to iPlayer and will make a further assessment once the work of the Editorial Complaints Unit is complete,” a BBC spokesperson said.
{Matzav.com}