The BBC faces mounting criticism from people in the media over its decision to remove the docu-film Gaza: How to Survive a Warzone from BBC iPlayer, its on-demand video service.
So far, 735 people — including prominent actors, directors, and journalists — have signed an open letter urging the broadcaster to halt what they describe as “censorship on Palestine.”
The letter, addressed to BBC Chair Samir Shah, Director General Tim Davie, and content chief Charlotte Moore, was published by Artists for Palestine UK.
High-profile signatories include actor Riz Ahmed, Match of the Day host Gary Lineker, veteran filmmaker Ken Loach, and Top Boy creator Ronan Bennett. Other notable figures lending their names to the protest include Game of Thrones actor Indira Varma, Khalid Abdalla, India Amarteifio, Miriam Margolyes, Ruth Negga, and Juliet Stevenson.
Why the docu-film was removed
The documentary, which initially aired on BBC Two on February 17, features 14-year-old Abdullah Al-Yazouri chronicling his life in Gaza. The BBC pulled the programme from its streaming service last week after it found out that Abdullah’s father, Dr Ayman Al-Yazouri, is the deputy minister of agriculture in Gaza.
The BBC alleged that the film’s producers had failed to disclose this information. However, the letter argues that linking a civil service role in agriculture to terrorism is “factually incorrect and dehumanising.”
“Conflating such governance roles in Gaza with terrorism is both factually incorrect and dehumanising,” the letter states. “This broad-brush rhetoric assumes that Palestinians holding administrative roles are inherently complicit in violence — a racist trope that denies individuals their humanity and right to share their lived experiences.”
Ethical and editorial concerns
The letter warns that the BBC’s actions set a dangerous precedent that could undermine journalistic integrity. The letter calls How to Survive a Warzone “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.”
Signatories argue that the removal of the documentary signals that Palestinian narratives are only acceptable if they pass arbitrary “purity tests.”
The letter accuses the BBC of failing its duty of care to the documentary’s young contributors, particularly Abdullah Al-Yazouri. “Weaponising family associations to discredit a child’s testimony is both unethical and dangerous,” the letter states. It argues that the censorship violates the BBC’s own International Safeguarding Policy, which prioritises the safety, privacy, and dignity of minors.
Critics further contend that the BBC’s actions undermine journalistic ethics by prioritising political pressure over the public interest. They warn that the move could have a chilling effect on future reporting from conflict zones. “If every documentary made in conflict zones were subjected to this level of politicised scrutiny regarding contributors, filmmaking in these areas would become virtually impossible.”
Calls to restore the film
The letter concludes with a call to reject attempts to permanently remove the film from iPlayer, arguing that doing so would discourage independent journalism. “Silencing a child’s firsthand account of survival in Gaza, where over 13,000 children have been killed since October 2023, is not about compliance but about erasing Palestinian suffering.”
The BBC Board is expected to address the controversy in its upcoming meeting, where the fate of Gaza: How to Survive a Warzone will be discussed.
