BBC Scraps Pledge to Show Gaza Medics Documentary 'As Soon as Possible'
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The BBC has dropped its previous commitment to broadcast the Gaza documentary Gaza: Medics Under Fire "as soon as possible", Byline Times has learnt. It constitutes a shift that comes after weeks of mounting criticism and controversy.
The documentary, produced by Basement Films, captures the harrowing experiences of Palestinian medics working under Israeli bombardment. It has been "fact checked, complied and signed off multiple times within the BBC" according to the filmmakers and yet remains shelved pending an internal review.
Meanwhile on 7 June, Ben de Pear, the former Channel4 news editor and executive on the film, wrote on LinkedIn that "the (film), for the BBC, on the destruction of the Gazan health care system, has been on production for 15 months now and was supposed to be released four months ago. In the months it has been delayed another 500 medics have been killed. Its release has been repeatedly delayed and postponed several times; now indefinitely."
Until recently, the BBC had insisted that the delay was temporary. In a statement issued in April, the corporation said: "This documentary is a powerful piece of reporting and we will broadcast it as soon as possible. We have taken an editorial decision not to do so while we have an ongoing review into a previous documentary, Gaza: How to Survive a Warzone."
However, in a new statement to Byline Times, the BBC removed the phrase "we will broadcast it as soon as possible". It now reads: "We have taken an editorial decision not to broadcast this documentary while we have an ongoing review into a previous documentary, Gaza: How to Survive a Warzone. We understand the importance of telling these stories and know that the current process is difficult for those involved."
EXCLUSIVE
BBC Bosses Draw Up Plans to Win Over Reform Voters by Changing News and Drama Output
The Director General Tim Davie and other executives discussed altering BBC "story selection" in order to secure the "trust" of supporters of Nigel Farage's party
Adam Bienkov
The omission of a timeline or firm commitment to broadcast has raised fresh concerns among supporters of the film, who argue the change signals a retreat from the BBC's earlier pledge to air it.
The shift comes as the BBC faces growing pressure from both inside and outside the organisation to explain why the film has not been shown.
The decision to delay Gaza: Medics Under Fire has prompted accusations of political censorship. More than 600 figures in the arts and media, including actors Susan Sarandon, Harriet Walter, and Miriam Margolyes, signed an open letter criticising the BBC's handling of the film.
The
For digital and print editions, packed with exclusive investigations, analysis, features, and columns….
SUBSCRIBE
The BBC has dropped its previous commitment to broadcast the Gaza documentary Gaza: Medics Under Fire "as soon as possible", Byline Times has learnt. It constitutes a shift that comes after weeks of mounting criticism and controversy.
The documentary, produced by Basement Films, captures the harrowing experiences of Palestinian medics working under Israeli bombardment. It has been "fact checked, complied and signed off multiple times within the BBC" according to the filmmakers and yet remains shelved pending an internal review.
Meanwhile on 7 June, Ben de Pear, the former Channel4 news editor and executive on the film, wrote on LinkedIn that "the (film), for the BBC, on the destruction of the Gazan health care system, has been on production for 15 months now and was supposed to be released four months ago. In the months it has been delayed another 500 medics have been killed. Its release has been repeatedly delayed and postponed several times; now indefinitely."
Until recently, the BBC had insisted that the delay was temporary. In a statement issued in April, the corporation said: "This documentary is a powerful piece of reporting and we will broadcast it as soon as possible. We have taken an editorial decision not to do so while we have an ongoing review into a previous documentary, Gaza: How to Survive a Warzone."
However, in a new statement to Byline Times, the BBC removed the phrase "we will broadcast it as soon as possible". It now reads: "We have taken an editorial decision not to broadcast this documentary while we have an ongoing review into a previous documentary, Gaza: How to Survive a Warzone. We understand the importance of telling these stories and know that the current process is difficult for those involved."
EXCLUSIVE
BBC Bosses Draw Up Plans to Win Over Reform Voters by Changing News and Drama Output
The Director General Tim Davie and other executives discussed altering BBC "story selection" in order to secure the "trust" of supporters of Nigel Farage's party
Adam Bienkov
The omission of a timeline or firm commitment to broadcast has raised fresh concerns among supporters of the film, who argue the change signals a retreat from the BBC's earlier pledge to air it.
The shift comes as the BBC faces growing pressure from both inside and outside the organisation to explain why the film has not been shown.
The decision to delay Gaza: Medics Under Fire has prompted accusations of political censorship. More than 600 figures in the arts and media, including actors Susan Sarandon, Harriet Walter, and Miriam Margolyes, signed an open letter criticising the BBC's handling of the film.
The
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