Channel 4 has acquired and broadcast the documentary "Gaza: Doctors Under Attack," which exposes allegations that Israeli forces systematically targeted hospitals and medical staff in Gaza, actions that could constitute grave breaches of international law. The film, produced by Basement Films and commissioned by the BBC, was shelved by the BBC after internal reviews and concerns over impartiality, particularly following controversy related to another BBC Gaza documentary, "Gaza: How to Survive a Warzone." The latter documentary was found in a BBC internal review to have breached editorial guidelines by failing to disclose that its child narrator was the son of a Hamas official, a detail deemed critical for accuracy and transparency. This breach prompted Ofcom, the UK media regulator, to launch an investigation into whether the BBC misled audiences. The Channel 4 broadcast of "Gaza: Doctors Under Attack" has been described as a powerful and difficult-to-watch film that includes firsthand accounts from Palestinian doctors working under Israeli bombardment. The BBC's decision to drop the documentary reportedly led to internal dissent among its staff, with some accusing the corporation of political pressure influencing editorial decisions. The Channel 4 airing marked the documentary's UK debut on July 2, 2025, after Zeteo acquired global rights. The BBC has not announced any disciplinary actions following the review of its Gaza documentary's editorial breaches.
A review finds a BBC Gaza documentary breached editorial guidelines https://t.co/wYKQ3lt7B2 https://t.co/VaNSmU8aJh
‘BBC’ admits one ethics failure in nixed Gaza feature https://t.co/AgVvraCTOj
The broadcasting watchdog Ofcom says it will investigate whether a BBC Gaza documentary narrated by the son of a Hamas official misled the audience. It follows a BBC review which found that the documentary had breached the BBC's guidelines on accuracy. Most of the blame was https://t.co/YHCjBHlVe5