The BBC has apologised for "serious flaws" in the production of a controversial Gaza documentary after it emerged one of the film's key contributors was the son of a senior Hamas official.
The documentary, titled "Gaza: How To Survive A Warzone", contained a number of interviews with Abdullah Al-Yazouri - the son of the terror group's Deputy Agriculture Minister Ayman Alyazouri.
After the news came to light, it sparked serious outrage - and led Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy to demand assurances from the BBC's director-general Tim Davie that the broadcaster had not paid money to Hamas terrorists.
It was taken down so the BBC could conduct "due diligence" - and now, the broadcaster has issued a lengthy apology.
The documentary contained a number of interviews with Abdullah Al-Yazouri - the son of the terror group's Deputy Agriculture Minister Ayman Alyazouri
BBC/APPLE TV
A spokesman said: "BBC News has conducted an initial review on the programme Gaza: How To Survive A Warzone.
"Today the BBC board was updated on that work. It has identified serious flaws in the making of this programme.
"Some of these were made by the production company and some by the BBC; all of them are unacceptable.
"BBC News takes full responsibility for these and the impact that these have had on the corporation's reputation. We apologise for this.
MORE ON THE BBC GAZA DOCUMENTARY OUTRAGE:
- BBC mistranslated references to 'Jews' and 'jihad' in Gaza documentary as pressure rises to reveal whether taxpayers' money was given to Hamas
- Gary Lineker joins call for return of pulled BBC Gaza documentary starring Hamas chief's son
- 'Stop whitewashing terrorism!' Protesters blast BBC over Hamas chief's son starring in £400k Gaza documentary
'BBC News takes full responsibility for these and the impact that these have had on the corporation's reputation. We apologise for this,' a statement said
BBC"Nothing is more important than the trust that our audiences have in our journalism. This incident has damaged that trust.
"While the intent of the documentary was aligned with our purpose - to tell the story of what is happening around the world, even in the most difficult and dangerous places - the processes and execution of this programme fell short of our expectations.
"Although the programme was made by an independent production company, who were commissioned to deliver a fully compliant documentary, the BBC has ultimate editorial responsibility for this programme as broadcast."
Leading the condemnation has been the Campaign Against Antisemitism - and a spokesman for the group laid into the broadcaster before the apology.
'The longer this goes on, the more untenable Tim Davie's position starts to look,' a Campaign Against Antisemitism spokesman said
GETTY
He said: There are only two questions for the BBC: how did a film representing Hamas propaganda come to be aired by our national broadcaster?
"Did licence fee funds end up in the hands of a proscribed terrorist organisation? An internal BBC review isn't enough: we need an independent investigation to provide the answers. Enough of letting the BBC mark its own homework.
"Pending that independent investigation, there should be a suspension of the licence fee.
"It is unconscionable that the British public should be forced to pay money to an institution that cannot be certain that those funds don't go to terrorists.
"The longer this goes on, the more untenable Tim Davie's position starts to look."
In a separate statement from the BBC's board today, executives said mistakes made in producing the documentary were "significant and damaging" to the corporation.
It read said: "The BBC board met today. The subject matter of the documentary was clearly a legitimate area to explore, but nothing is more important than trust and transparency in our journalism.
"While the board appreciates that mistakes can be made, the mistakes here are significant and damaging to the BBC.
"The board has required the Executive to report back at the earliest opportunity on the outcomes of the work the director-general has commissioned."
