BBC pulls Gaza medics documentary due to impartiality concerns

The BBC said he decided not to publish a documentary about doctors working in Gaza because of worries of impartiality surrounding production.

Gaza: Doctors under the attack were assigned by the BBC, but produced by an independent production company. It was initially planned to be released in February, but it has not yet been published at any BBC exit.

“BBC said in a statement,” all aspects of the conflict in the Middle East is determined to declare neutral and fairly, “he said.

BBC News contacted the production company Bodrum films for a comment. Founder Ben, Pear said that at the beginning of this week, the BBC was “completely unsuccessful” and that journalists were “styled and silenced”.

BBC, “the ownership of the film material to Bodrum films,” he said.

The BBC News realizes that at the Sheffield Documentary Festival, Pear’s public interpretations and Radio 4s were taken on Thursday after another public commentary, another manager of another film, another manager of Journalist Ramita Navai, who is involved in the war in Gaza today.

A different documentary, Gaza: survival from a Warzone Withdrawing from İplayer earlier this year After his appearance, his 13 -year -old narrator was the son of a Hamas official.

Gaza: Doctors under the attack – Gaza: It is also known as healthcare partners under fire – it is said to examine the experiences of Palestinian medical officials working during the war in Gaza.

The film is directed by Karim Shah, Navai and Pear, former editor of Channel 4 News.

In a statement on Friday, the BBC documentary appointed a year ago, but the film paused in April, “a separate Gaza documentary was continuing an investigation continued” after deciding that we could not publish the film “.

“Both films come from independent production companies, and both were right to wait for the relevant findings about Gaza before publishing the film – and to activate them.

“However, we wanted to hear the voices of doctors. Our aim was to find a way to publish some materials in our news programs in line with our impartiality standards before the study was published.

“BBC works for a few weeks with Bodrum films to find a way to tell the stories of these doctors on our platforms.

“Yesterday [Thursday]With these discussions, it was understood that we reached the end of the road. We concluded that the publication of this material is at risk of creating a partial perception that would not meet the high standards that the people rightly expect from the BBC. “

Contrary to some reports, the company added that the documentary “BBC has not gone through the last publication before the last publication” and added: “Any film broadcast will not be a BBC film.”

He continued: “We want to thank the doctors and those who contributed, and we are sorry to tell their stories.

Before the decision was announced at the Sheffield Documentary Festival on Thursday, Pear accused General Manager Tim Davie for refusing to publish the film.

“All decisions about our film were not taken by journalists, it was taken by Tim Davie.” As reported by the publication.

“He is only a PR person. Tim Davie is making editorial decisions that cannot be given.”

“The primary purpose of the BBC is TV news and current jobs, and if it fails, it fails as an institution if it does not matter which drama or sports they do, and if it fails, it needs new management.

“Something needs to be because they make decisions in terms of defense rather than journalism. If you make a decision on the basis of journalism, you can defend it, but if you do it on PR basis, you can’t.”

Regarding the war, he claimed that the staff in Pear BBC had to use the language they did not know, they do not define something clearly [for fear of impartiality] And tragic “.

A BBC spokesman responding to de Pear’s comments, BBC said “completely rejected[s] This characterization of our scope “.

“BBC has constantly produced a strong journalism about this conflict. In addition to last -minute news and ongoing analyzes, we conducted original research on the allegations of using Palestinian prisoners and the use of Bunker Buster bombs and in -depth documentaries, including Israel’s award -winning life and death. “

Actress Susan Sarandon and high profile figures such as presenter Gary Lineker Previously blamed the company Censorship on delay.

A clear letter signed by Dame Harriet Walter, Miriam Margolyes, Maxine Peake, Juliet Stevenson and Mike Leigh said: “This is not the editorial warning. Political suppression.”

“No news organization should quietly decide the back of closed doors worth telling stories.”

“This important film should be watched by the public and the courage of contributors should be honored.”