Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy asked the BBC why nobody has been fired for airing a Gaza documentary which featured the son of a Hamas official.
Gaza: How To Survive A Warzone was originally aired in February but it was pulled by the broadcaster after it emerged the son of a Hamas minister featured prominently.
The documentary’s narrator Abdullah al-Yazouri was the son of the deputy minister of agriculture in the Hamas-run government.
Another child in the film was the daughter of a former captain in the Hamas-run police force, while a third child was pictured posing with Hamas fighters – prompting allegations the BBC was providing a propaganda platform for the terror group.
Speaking to The Times, Ms Nandy described feeling ‘exasperated’ as she called for an ‘adequate explanation from the BBC about what has happened’.
‘I have not had that from the chair or director-general yet,’ she said.
She added: ‘I have been very clear that people must be held accountable for the decisions that were taken. I have asked the question to the board (of the BBC). Why has nobody been fired?
‘What I want is an explanation as to why not. If it is a sackable offence then obviously that should happen.
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy (pictured) asked the BBC why nobody has been fired for airing a Gaza documentary which featured the son of a Hamas official
The documentary’s narrator Abdullah al-Yazouri (pictured) was the son of the deputy minister of agriculture in the Hamas-run government
‘But if the BBC, which is independent, considers that it is not, I think what all parliamentarians want to know is why.’
Ms Nandy’s comments come ahead of a review into Gaza: How To Survive A Warzone, which is reportedly set to be published next week.
It is expected to determine whether any editorial guidelines were broken, and whether any disciplinary action is needed.
The BBC will also undertake a full audit of expenditure on the programme.
A BBC spokesperson said: ‘The findings of the review will be published as soon as possible.
‘As we have said previously, it is vital that this work is done as quickly as possible but it must also be thorough and follow a proper process.’
The review led the broadcaster to delay and then pull entirely another documentary from the region, Gaza: Doctors under Attack, which has since been broadcast on Channel 4.
The documentary was originally commissioned by the BBC more than a year ago but paused its production in April and was eventually aired by Channel 4 on Wednesday.
Gaza: Doctors under Attack was originally commissioned by the BBC more than a year ago but paused its production in April and was eventually aired by Channel 4 on Wednesday. Pictured: BBC Headquarters
Pictured: People carry the body of a Palestinian at the site where a journalist and three Palestinian medics were killed in an Israeli strike
Channel 4 said it had fact-checked the documentary to ensure that it meets its editorial standards and the Ofcom Broadcasting Code
It is a one off-documentary that examines allegations that Israeli forces have repeatedly targeted hospitals in breach of international law.
The programme was made by two-time Emmy-winning journalist Ramita Navai, fellow two-time Emmy-winning director Karim Shah and ex-Channel 4 News Editor Ben De Pear, who is the executive producer of Basement Films, which was commissioned by the BBC to create the film.
Channel 4 said it had fact-checked the documentary to ensure that it meets its editorial standards and the Ofcom Broadcasting Code.
The film reports that every one of Gaza’s 36 main hospitals has now been attacked or destroyed by Israel, with people forced to evacuate and healthcare workers reportedly killed, imprisoned and tortured.
BBC staff are said to be in uproar over the decision not to show the programme on its channels, which is thought to have been made by director general Tim Davie.
Ms Nandy also added that she thinks the BBC has to ‘get a grip’ following the livestreamed Glastonbury performance from punk rap duo, Bob Vylan.
The group have been dropped by a number of music events since the singer Bobby Vylan, whose real name is reportedly Pascal Robinson-Foster, 34, led crowds in chants of ‘death, death to the IDF (Israel Defence Forces)’ during their Saturday afternoon set at Glastonbury and which are now being investigated by police.
‘The BBC leadership have got to get a grip on it,’ Ms Nandy said.
Punk band Bob Vylan said that they were being ‘targeted for speaking up’ after being criticised for chanting ‘Death, death to the IDF’ at Glastonbury. Pictured: Bob Vylan performing on the West Holts Stage during the Glastonbury Festival
Punk band Bob Vylan have said in an Instagram post they are being ‘targeted for speaking up’
‘It makes me angry on behalf of the BBC staff and the whole creative industries in this country.
‘Particularly the Jewish community, who deserved far better than what happened at the weekend. Action has to be forthcoming.’
Punk band Bob Vylan said that they were being ‘targeted for speaking up’ after being criticised for chanting ‘Death, death to the IDF’ at Glastonbury.
Bobby Vylan, one half of the British rap punk duo, led the audience at the festival in Somerset on Saturday in chants that also included ‘Free, free Palestine’.
The performance at the West Holts Stage was livestreamed by the BBC but the organisation later expressed regret for not stopping its broadcast of the set.
The corporation has faced strong criticism for continuing to livestream the performance on iPlayer with on-screen warnings about discriminatory language.
Avon and Somerset Police said it had launched a probe into the performance after reviewing video footage and audio recordings, with a senior detective appointed to lead the investigation.
A police spokesman said: ‘This has been recorded as a public order incident at this time while our inquiries are at an early stage.
‘The investigation will be evidence-led and will closely consider all appropriate legislation, including relating to hate crimes.’
