GAZA DOC ROW
BBC PULL controversial Gaza doc off iPlayer after it was slammed as ‘propaganda tool for Hamas’ in furious row
The corporation said 'continuing questions' have been raised about the programme
THE BBC have pulled a controversial documentary off iPlayer after it was accused of being a propaganda tool for Hamas.
Its prime-time Gaza: How to Survive a Warzone featured children living in the strip since the October 7 attack on Israel.
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The hour-long documentary was broadcast on Monday on BBC2 and was supposed to be available for the next year on iPlayer.
Now, the programme reads "not currently available".
Controversy was stirred after reports claimed the main narrator — 13-year-old Abdulla Eliyazouri — is the son of Hamas deputy minister of agriculture Dr Ayman Al-Yazouri.
The BBC have confirmed the documentary was pulled while the corporation conducts "further due diligence".
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A statement from the BBC today said: "Gaza: How To Survive A Warzone features important stories we think should be told, those of the experiences of children in Gaza.
"There have been continuing questions raised about the programme and in the light of these, we are conducting further due diligence with the production company.
"The programme will not be available on iPlayer while this is taking place."
Investigative journalist David Collier, who revealed the identities of those involved, said: “How did the BBC let a son of a Hamas minister walk around looking for sympathy and demonising Israel for an hour in a documentary?
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“The BBC is publishing Hamas propaganda.
“The current hierarchy at the BBC has turned a once respected state broadcaster into a propaganda outlet for a radical Islamic terror group.”
After the documentary aired, a group including actress Tracy-Ann Oberman, producer Neil Blair, former BBC One controller Danny Cohen, and producer Leo Pearlman wrote to the BBC calling for the film to be pulled from iPlayer.
Earlier this week, the corporation apologised after it emerged that the film's child narrator is the son of Al-Yazouri, who has worked as Hamas's deputy minister of agriculture.
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Following the discovery, the BBC later added a disclaimer to the programme.
Meanwhile, one of the cameramen for the BBC doc is said to have previously posted messages saluting the October 7 massacre and videos showing off Hamas weapons.
Abdulla previously featured in a Channel 4 report in November 2023, soon after Israel’s bombardment of Gaza began.
He appeared under a different name with a man called Khalil Abushammala, who was said to be his father.
But Abushammala is actually his uncle and director of a group which campaigns for Palestinian prisoners.
It has links to the terror group Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), according to Collier.
The PFLP took part in the October 7 attacks alongside Hamas.
London-based Hoyo Films made the film after working with the BBC on the documentary Ukraine: Enemy In The Woods.
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Since October 2023, when Hamas attacked festivalgoers and Israeli settlers, more than 48,000 Palestinians have died, according to Gaza's Health Ministry.
The militant group is currently releasing hostages to Israel as part of a ceasefire agreement
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