BBC Doc Features Son Of Hamas Leader but Fails to Disclose to Viewers

[Social Media]

 

The BBC is facing accusations of failing to disclose crucial details about a child featured in its recent documentary, Gaza: How to Survive a War Zone.

 

The film, which aired on BBC2, follows the lives of three Palestinian children affected by the ongoing war in Gaza. However, concerns have been raised after it emerged that one of the main subjects, a 14-year-old boy named Abdullah Al-Yazouri, is reportedly the son of Ayman Alyazouri, a senior figure in the Hamas-run government, currently serving as deputy minister of agriculture.

 

 

Critics argue that by failing to disclose this connection, the BBC allowed itself to be used as a propaganda tool for Hamas. The campaign group Labour Against Antisemitism has formally complained, accusing the broadcaster of a failure in due diligence. Alex Hearn, a representative of the group, stated, “This documentary appears to have been a failure of due diligence by the BBC, with Hamas propaganda promoted as reliable fact at the taxpayers’ expense.

 

There needs to be an urgent investigation into how this happened once again. Misinformation is the story of the Israel-Hamas conflict, and this is not an isolated case. There has been a failure of news platforms to adequately scrutinise sources and a willingness to regurgitate Hamas disinformation repeatedly.”

 

The BBC has defended the documentary, stating that it maintained full editorial control and that the parents of the children featured had no involvement in shaping the content. However, when asked specifically about Abdullah’s alleged links to Hamas, the broadcaster declined to comment.

 

Concerns about the documentary were first raised by investigative journalist David Collier, who questioned whether the BBC was aware of Abdullah’s background. Abdullah, who previously attended the British school in Gaza, had also appeared in a Channel 4 news segment in November 2023, discussing the destruction caused by Israeli airstrikes. In that broadcast, he was accompanied by a man introduced as his father.

 

However, it has since been suggested that the man was his uncle, Khalil Abu Shamala, a former director of the Palestinian NGO Al Dameer. This organization has been accused of having ties to the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), which is designated as a terrorist organization by the US, EU, Canada, and Israel.

 

Social media posts by Ayman Alyazouri further fuel suspicions. In a 2023 post, he referred to his son as “Aboud” and expressed hopes for his safety. Additionally, Alyazouri is alleged to have previously praised two Hamas members described as “martyrs” who were involved in the killing of four Israelis.

 

The revelation has raised questions about whether Abdullah’s family ties should have been known to the BBC’s production team. David Collier noted, “The two photographers followed these children around for months. They absolutely knew who he was. Did either of the producers? How did the BBC let a son of a Hamas minister walk around looking for sympathy and demonising Israel for an hour in a BBC documentary?”

 

This controversy comes shortly after Danny Cohen, the former director of BBC Television, warned that the network risks becoming a mouthpiece for Hamas. Reacting to the allegations, Cohen stated, “This appears to be another appalling example of journalistic failure and anti-Israel bias. The BBC appears to have given an hour of prime-time coverage to the son of a senior member of the Hamas terrorist group. Questions must be asked as to whether the BBC carried out the most basic journalistic checks.” He further added, “Licence fee payers across the UK are being repeatedly conned into paying for Hamas PR. There can be no doubt now that the BBC has a very serious problem with the quality of its journalism and anti-Israel bias.”

 

The documentary, which took nine months to produce, was directed by Jamie Roberts, known for previous work on conflict-related documentaries. In addition to Abdullah, it follows the experiences of Zakaria, 11, who volunteers at a hospital, and Renad, 10, who is shown cooking with her sister amid ongoing bombings. At one point, Zakaria is asked about his opinion on Hamas, to which he responds, “No, because they started the war… They caused all this misery.”

 

The BBC maintains that the documentary offers a unique perspective into life in Gaza and highlights the voices of various civilians, some of whom criticize Hamas. A spokesperson stated, “Gaza: How to Survive a War Zone, a documentary showing the conflict through the eyes of three children in Gaza, was produced in line with BBC editorial guidelines and the BBC had full editorial control. The film told the children’s own stories, showing viewers their direct experiences of living through a war, and the children’s parents did not have any editorial input.

 

As the BBC has previously explained, the film was edited and directed from London, as independent international journalists are not allowed into Gaza. The film gives audiences a rare glimpse of Gaza during the war, as well as an insight into the children’s lives. It hears the voices of other Gazan civilians, several of whom voice anti-Hamas sentiments.”

 

Despite these reassurances, criticism persists regarding the BBC’s handling of the documentary and the potential influence of its subjects’ backgrounds on the portrayal of events.

 

 

Based on a report by Daily Telegraph  2025-02-20

 

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[Bkk Brian]

BBC have issued a statement on this but the doc is still there, it should be removed immediately!

 

 

 

BBC urged to pull Gaza documentary over revelation about child featured

The BBC has been urged to pull a documentary about Gaza from BBC iPlayer after it emerged that a child in it is the son of a Hamas leader. 

“Given the serious nature of these concerns, the BBC should immediately postpone any broadcast repeats of the programme, remove it from iPlayer and take down any social media clips of the programme until an independent investigation is carried out and its findings published with full transparency for licence-fee payers.

“Can the BBC confirm it will take this action?”

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/bbc-gaza-tim-davie-hamas-tracyann-oberman-b2701137.html

[JonnyF]

The BBC continues to be a propaganda tool for their favourite "freedom fighters", Hamas.

 

All paid for by money extorted from the British public under the false pretence of impartiality.

 

Defunding this morally bankrupt organization is long overdue. 

[RayWright]

The BBC can't even get their apology right.

 

Avoiding to various Middle East news outlets today, he still is the Deputy Argiculture Minister.

 

 

[Homburg]

BBC telling lies again? 

 

I'm shocked, shocked!

[Andycoops]

The BBC should be defunded immediately as it's clearly not fit for purpose and hasn't been for a long time.

A shocking waste yet again of taxpayer's and pensioners money.

[koolkarl]

Lets see the list of names of the people who approved the airing of this ongoing propaganda. Again England is being hoodwinked and sleepwalking into a disaster for all non believers in Islam.  And why does the media keep saying Palestinians when 99% of them are muslims?

[RayWright]

Unfortunately the Reithian values are all but lost on today's BBC management.

Educate, Inform and Entertain.

[thesetat]

The BBC knew about the kids family but chose to use him anyway. Perhaps they did it specifically for that. to gain sympathy for the Hamas. Unfortunately the BBC will never truly apologize until the people speak out there and they are investigated for providing this type of false information to their viewers. 

I am really surprised the governing force for news services are not fighting it out right now trying to justify their actions and prevent losing their licenses to air such drivel. 

 

[Bkk Brian]

Too much to ask for a Labour representative to address the BBC on this?

 

Shadow Lord Chancellor & Secretary of State for Justice

 

 

The BBC started the war, unwilling to even call Hamas terrorists. 

They end it by using the son of a senior Hamas figure as the subject of a primetime BBC 2 Gaza documentary without telling the audience. 

Hamas’s account, given legitimacy by the BBC, and funded by your taxes. Their commitment to impartiality out the window.

It is also alleged that one of the Palestinian cameramen employed for the documentary by the BBC celebrated the October 7 attacks. 

The BBC have belatedly concluded the programme’s producers did not tell them everything.

There are very serious questions we need answers to:

- Did the producers collude with Hamas officials in Gaza in the making of this documentary? Hamas controls Gaza, the child’s family and will have required authorisation. 

- Did the BBC, and therefore the licence fee payer, inadvertently fund a terrorist organisation in the making of this documentary by paying the child’s family? 

- Will the BBC remove the documentary from iPlayer and stop all repeats while a full investigation is carried out?

- ⁠What journalistic checks were conducted on the production team and people on the ground?

In October 2023 I confronted Tim Davie in Parliament over the BBC’s coverage of Hamas’s October 7th attack. From start to finish the BBC has comprehensively failed the licence fee payer. They seem to have learnt nothing.

https://x.com/RobertJenrick/status/1892529326303989835

 

[OneManShow]

Ayattollah BBC 😁