The BBC has removed a controversial Gaza documentary from iPlayer while it carries out "further due diligence" with the production company.
The programme, "Gaza: How to Survive a Warzone", aired on BBC Two on Monday and featured children's experiences in the heavily-bombarded territory.
"There have been continuing questions raised about the programme and in the light of these, we are conducting further due diligence with the production company," the BBC said in a statement.
The broadcaster added that while these were "important stories we think should be told", the programme would not be available during the investigation.
The BBC has launched an investigation into the documentary
PA/Reuters
The documentary came under fire when it emerged its 13-year-old narrator, Abdullah Al-Yazouri, is the son of Ayman Alyazouri, who has served as Hamas's deputy minister of agriculture. The BBC initially responded by adding a disclaimer to the programme, apologising for "the omission of that detail from the original film".
The broadcaster said it had followed its "usual compliance procedures" but had not been informed of this information by the independent producers before broadcast. The film was made by London-based Hoyo Films, which previously worked with the BBC on a Ukraine documentary.
Further accusations have emerged about other children featured in the documentary. Claims surfaced that 11-year-old Zakaria es-Sersek was photographed hugging a Hamas terrorist and wearing a Hamas headband while holding a machine gun.
He was also reportedly filmed leading children in a chant praising late-Hamas chief Mohammed Deif.
LATEST NEWS FROM THE ISRAEL-GAZA CONFLICT
Palestinians sit next to a fire among the rubble of buildings destroyed during the Israeli offensive
Reuters
Additional concerns were raised about one of the documentary's two cameramen, who allegedly celebrated the October 7 Hamas attacks on social media.
The BBC has also been accused of mistranslating the Arabic word 'Yehudi' meaning 'Jews' to 'Israelis' in the programme.
The Campaign Against Antisemitism announced a protest outside Broadcasting House in London next Tuesday over the documentary.
"The BBC has no shame and Britain has had enough," a CAA spokesman said.
Israel's ambassador to the UK, Tzipi Hotovely, speaks with GB NewsGB NewsCulture Secretary Lisa Nandy confirmed she would be discussing the documentary with the BBC, particularly regarding how participants were sourced.
"These things are difficult and I do want to acknowledge that for the BBC, they take more care than most broadcasters," Nandy told LBC. Former BBC Television director Danny Cohen called it "a shocking failure by the BBC and a major crisis for its reputation".
A group of prominent TV figures, including Dr Who actress Tracy-Ann Oberman and producer Neil Blair, wrote to the BBC demanding an investigation.
They called for the programme to be removed until "an independent investigation is carried out and its findings published with full transparency for licence-fee payers".
Israel's Ambassador to the UK, Tzipi Hotovely has sent an official letter to BBC Director General Tim Davie regarding the matter.
