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June 21, 2025 – Palestine/Israel –
The BBC has decided not to air Gaza: Doctors Under Attack, a documentary focusing on the targeting of medical workers during the ongoing Israel-Gaza conflict. The decision, announced in June 2025, has triggered widespread criticism from journalists, filmmakers, and press freedom advocates who accuse the BBC of censorship and political bias.
Produced by Basement Films, the documentary was commissioned by the BBC and initially scheduled to air in February. However, internal concerns over impartiality, especially in the wake of an earlier controversy involving another Gaza documentary, led to its postponement. BBC executives ultimately concluded that broadcasting the film could be perceived as unbalanced, potentially damaging the corporation’s reputation for neutrality.
The earlier controversy involved Gaza: How to Survive a War Zone, a separate film whose narrator was revealed to be the son of a senior Hamas official. That incident prompted a broader internal review of the BBC’s handling of Israel-Palestine coverage. In the case of Gaza: Doctors Under Attack, the BBC claimed it tried to use some of the footage in its news segments but found it difficult to present the content in a way that upheld its editorial standards.
The decision has provoked a strong backlash. Over 600 artists and public figures—including actress Susan Sarandon and director Mike Leigh—signed an open letter urging the BBC to air the film. The filmmakers accused BBC leadership, particularly Director-General Tim Davie, of caving to political pressure. Some contributors to the documentary, including NHS doctors, have threatened to withdraw consent for their appearances, calling the delay unjustified and damaging to the public’s right to information.
Critics argue the BBC is silencing Palestinian voices and abandoning its duty to report on humanitarian crises with accuracy and empathy. The controversy underscores the challenges faced by public broadcasters navigating deeply polarized conflicts. With rights to the film now returned to Basement Films, other networks may still choose to broadcast it. Meanwhile, the BBC’s editorial judgment continues to draw scrutiny from both sides of the debate.
Reference –
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jun/20/bbc-gaza-medics-documentary-impartiality-coverage
https://www.timesofisrael.com/bbc-shelves-gaza-documentary-over-impartiality-concerns/
