Channel 4 has broadcast the powerful documentary “Gaza: Doctors Under Attack,” initially commissioned but later shelved by the BBC over fears it could appear biased against Israel. This decision has sparked significant controversy, placing the BBC under renewed scrutiny for alleged editorial censorship, internal conflicts of interest, and claims of attempted gagging of filmmakers.
The documentary, aired following intense backlash against the BBC, reveals harrowing accounts of Israel’s systematic targeting of Palestinian healthcare workers and facilities. Since October 2023, over 1,500 medical personnel in Gaza have reportedly been killed, arrested, or disappeared. Just hours before Channel 4 aired the documentary, Dr. Marwan al-Sultan, director of the Indonesian Hospital in Gaza, was killed by an Israeli airstrike along with several family members, highlighting the urgency and gravity of the situation depicted in the film.
WATCH THE DOCUMENTARY PREVIEW, HERE: https://zeteo.com/p/watch-now-gaza-doctors-under-attack
Ben de Pear, the documentary’s executive producer and former Channel 4 News editor, accused the BBC of attempting to gag him using legal clauses to prevent public criticism of the broadcaster’s decision. De Pear refused to sign what he described as a “double gagging clause” and publicly criticized BBC Director General Tim Davie at a conference in Sheffield. De Pear stated, “All the decisions about our film were not taken by journalists, they were taken by Tim Davie,” calling Davie “just a PR person” incapable of making editorial decisions. De Pear further asserted that the BBC’s primary purpose—news and current affairs—was failing under Davie’s leadership, warranting new management.
The BBC has denied attempting to gag De Pear, insisting the clauses were standard practice. However, BBC sources claim the broadcaster had initially sought to use footage from the documentary for news coverage but dropped it entirely after De Pear’s public comments, a timeline disputed by De Pear’s production company, Basement Films.
More than 400 prominent figures from media, film, and activism, including Miriam Margolyes, Alexei Sayle, Juliet Stevenson, Mike Leigh, and William Dalrymple, have publicly criticized the BBC’s decision. Their letter specifically targets Robbie Gibb, a BBC board member and former spin doctor for Theresa May, alleging his role presents a “clear conflict of interest” due to his involvement with the Jewish Chronicle, a publication accused of anti-Palestinian bias.
Further allegations from Prospect Magazine’s Alan Rusbridger have intensified the scrutiny. Rusbridger reported that Gibb did not recuse himself from discussions concerning the BBC’s Gaza coverage and suggested he likely engaged in informal discussions about the network’s editorial decisions, despite BBC denials.
At a recent private screening of the Channel 4 documentary in London, former BBC presenter Gary Lineker openly criticized BBC management, stating the corporation should “hold its head in shame” for its editorial choices and accusing senior BBC figures of succumbing to political pressure. Lineker’s remarks echoed broader sentiments among BBC journalists who describe experiencing internal censorship and biased editorial policies.
BBC staff, in an anonymous letter signed by 111 journalists due to fear of professional repercussions, emphasized concerns about “opaque editorial decisions and censorship” related to Israel-Palestine reporting. They highlighted that significant stories concerning UK government involvement and arms sales had often been reported first by other outlets, weakening the BBC’s credibility and public trust.
The Centre for Media Monitoring supported these claims with data showing the BBC disproportionately highlighted Israeli casualties over Palestinian ones, further fueling allegations of biased reporting. This imbalance, combined with the documentary’s suppression, led the signatories to declare Robbie Gibb’s position “untenable,” demanding his resignation from the BBC board and its editorial standards committee.
Review: Gaza: Doctors Under Attack – “This Crucial Film is the Stuff of Nightmares”
According to Stuart Heritage of The Guardian, “Gaza: Doctors Under Attack” is an essential and profoundly disturbing documentary that details the systematic targeting, detainment, and torture of medical professionals in Gaza. Heritage describes the film as “an unceasing timeline of horrors,” emphasizing the devastating personal stories of doctors like Dr. Khaled Hamouda and Dr. Adnan al-Bursh. The film is praised for its careful, forensic investigation and balanced presentation, with critical perspectives and clarifications from the IDF included to prevent perceptions of bias.
Heritage concludes that despite its distressing content, the documentary is a must-watch, asserting that it will provoke necessary international reactions and should compel viewers not to look away.
“Gaza: Doctors Under Attack” is available for viewing on Channel 4 now. Viewers around the world can access the film here.
