Quotes
The BBC’s statement is an exercise in desperate damage control, and shows why an internal review is no substitute for an independent investigation into this documentary and the wider bias at the BBC that allowed it to be made and aired
The Campaign Against Antisemitism said
Given the nature of the story and the pressure the BBC is under, everyone in a senior position should have been on high alert
A TV insider saidSurely those who oversaw the making of this programme should be sacked for the very serious professional and moral failings.
Former Labour MP Lord Austin, who sits as an independent peer, saidCalls to remove the documentary from iPlayer and social media set a dangerous precedent.
It addedNothing is more important than the trust that our audiences have in our journalism. This incident has damaged that trust.”
A BBC spokesman said
Hoyo Films have assured us that no payments were made to members of Hamas or its affiliates, either directly, in kind, or as a gift.
It went on to saySome of these were made by the production company, and some by the BBC; all of them are unacceptable.”
The corporation confessed
Counter-terrorism police are assessing whether police action is required after the BBC admitted to paying a family with ties to Hamas for making that controversial documentary about Gaza. It’s an astonishing story.”
Mark White of GB News broke the news, stating
The reason is simple - Hamas is a prescribed terrorist organization in the UK; sending them money would be a criminal offence. I’ve covered multiple court cases over the years with people who have been convicted and jailed for sending money to Isis and other prescribed terrorist organizations.”
White also noted the legal ramifications of these actions, explainingWhy are the police assessing if action is required? It is in the Public's interest to carry out an investigation.”
One comment read
I want assurances that no stone will be left unturned."
Announcing Friday's meeting with BBC Chair Samir Shah, Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said
It is astonishing that the BBC have now admitted money has gone to the family of a senior Hamas official, and this is a matter that must now be fully investigated by the authorities
Danny Cohen former Director of BBC Television saidWhen we were commissioned to make Gaza: How to Survive a Warzone, our aim was to make an engaging and insightful documentary about the lives of young people in Gaza
A spokesperson for Hoyo films saidThere needs to be accountability for those who allowed the heard-earned money of British taxpayers to end up in the pockets of Hamas, a banned terrorist organisation
Alex Hearn, Co-Director of Labour Against Antisemitism told the Daily Mail
I expect far better from our national public broadcaster
Luke Akehurst, Labour MP saidWe're aware of a BBC documentary about Gaza and we have received a number of reports raising concerns
This morning a spokesperson for the Metropolitan police saidA national treasure has become a national embarrassment
A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism saidThe 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.”
The spokesperson added
I don’t think the BBC is biased on the big issues of Israel and the Middle East. I think the BBC tries very hard on the most difficult of stories to get it right, and this so undermines it.”
He saidThe BBC's bias and lack of accountability have led it to a new low, where it is a mouthpiece for terrorists and their supporters."
A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism (CAA) said