Did BBC Pay Hamas Members To Be In Documentary?

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The BBC is facing more intense scrutiny following allegations that taxpayer money may have been paid to Hamas during the production of a controversial documentary about Gaza. Kemi Badenoch, the Tory leader, has called for an independent inquiry into what she described as “potential collusion” with the terrorist group. The demand comes after it was revealed that *Gaza: How To Survive A Warzone* was presented by the son of a Hamas minister.  

 

 

Initially, the BBC defended keeping the documentary available with a disclaimer, describing it as an “invaluable testament” to Palestinian experiences during the war. However, the broadcaster has since removed it from iPlayer, citing the need for “further due diligence” regarding its collaboration with Hoyo Films, the production company responsible for the film.  

 

 

Badenoch has urged the BBC to launch a full-scale independent investigation into both the documentary’s production and wider accusations of “systemic BBC bias against Israel.” She warned that if the corporation fails to demonstrate “true impartiality,” the Conservative Party may withdraw its support for the licence fee.  

 

“It’s funded by us. We are paying for the BBC to promote a Radical Islamic Terrorist organization.”

Wow, GB News breaks down how the BBC is funding and promoting Hamas propaganda, at the British taxpayer expense.

“It’s funded by us. We are paying for the BBC to promote a Radical Islamic Terrorist organization.”
pic.twitter.com/uCi0zbUUqr

— Eyal Yakoby (@EYakoby) February 24, 2025

 

The controversy escalated after *The Telegraph* reported that BBC executives are set to be questioned by MPs in the Commons culture, media, and sport committee. Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy is also expected to hold urgent discussions with the BBC regarding the documentary’s sourcing. She criticized the BBC’s “defensive reaction” to the controversy, saying that the broadcaster had claimed it was unaware of the presenter’s connection to Hamas before the documentary aired.  

 

“After the revelation that the presenter of this programme was the son of a Hamas official, the BBC initially argued that the ‘documentary’ remained an ‘invaluable testament’ to the war and kept the programme on iPlayer,” Badenoch said. “This defensive reaction from BBC executives is profoundly troubling. It shows problems run deep. Surely it should have been immediately apparent that the programme was fundamentally flawed?

 

The BBC also suggested that ‘usual compliance procedures’ had been followed. But does filming inside Gaza not require something far beyond usual checks?”  

 

Badenoch stated that an independent investigation must determine whether any payments were made to Hamas and whether the BBC had knowledge of such transactions. Further controversy arose when it was discovered that another child featured in the documentary was the daughter of a former captain in Hamas-run police forces, while a third child was photographed posing with Hamas fighters.  

 

The Tory leader also raised concerns about the BBC’s broader coverage of the Israel-Gaza conflict, arguing that allegations of bias have persisted since the Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023. She called for an inquiry into the “senior management of BBC News” and emphasized that the corporation must take the accusations seriously if it wishes to maintain public trust.  

 

“The BBC must recognize how serious these allegations are for its public standing,” Badenoch said. “The BBC’s Middle East coverage is widely regarded as unreliable.”  

 

The controversy deepened when *The Telegraph* uncovered social media posts from Hatem Rawagh, a cameraman credited in the documentary, who appeared to celebrate the October 7 Hamas attacks. In one tweet, he shared a video of a gunman killing an Israeli soldier, urging people to watch it “a million” times. On the day of the attack, he referenced the 1973 Yom Kippur War, writing: “Whoever missed Oct 6 [1973] in Egypt ... Oct 7 is happening [now] in Palestine.”

 

The following day, he shared footage from the Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, showing a gunman shooting an Israeli at the Gaza border.  

 

These revelations have intensified calls for transparency regarding the BBC’s editorial standards and financial dealings. As the government pressures the broadcaster for answers, the BBC now faces mounting demands to prove its commitment to impartiality and journalistic integrity.

 

Based on a report by The Telegraph  2025-02-26

 

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