More than 100 BBC staff accuse network of pro-Israel bias in its coverage of Gaza

More than 100 BBC staff have accused the BBC of favoring Israel in its reporting on the war in the Gaza Strip.

In a letter sent on Friday to BBC director general Tim Davey and director general Deborah Turness, the broadcaster was criticized for its “favorable coverage of events in Israel” and failure to uphold a “core journalistic principle” in holding Israel to account.

There are 230 signatories, including 100 anonymous BBC staff, as well as media figures, journalists, actors and academics.

“The consequences of poor lighting are significant. “Every television report, article and radio interview that fails to vigorously challenge Israel’s claims systematically dehumanizes Palestinians,” the letter, first published by the Independent, said.

The journalists highlighted the BBC’s “high level of credibility” as a taxpayer-funded public broadcaster, warning that its coverage of the Gaza war could undermine its “impartiality” and put its “independence at serious risk”.

The signatories called on the BBC to live up to editorial commitments such as “reiterating that Israel does not allow outside journalists access to Gaza; clarify when there is insufficient evidence to support Israeli claims; clarification in article headlines where Israel is to blame; including normal historical context prior to October 2023; and vigorously challenge Israeli government and military officials in all interviews.”

Since Israel began its war with the Gaza Strip last year, Israeli forces have killed 183 Palestinian journalists, out of more than 43,300 killed overall.

Last November, a month after Israel attacked Gaza, BBC journalists spoke to Al Jazeera, criticizing the British corporation’s coverage of the war and accusing it of “double standards” compared with its reporting on Ukraine.

The BBC defended its coverage of the war and said on Friday: “When we make mistakes or make changes to the way we cover war, we act transparently.”

The spokesperson added: “We are also very clear with our audience about the restrictions placed on our reporting, including no access to the Gaza Strip and limited access to parts of Lebanon, as well as our ongoing efforts to bring reporters into these areas.”