The BBC needs to stop hiding reports on Gaza
JVL Introduction
When the BBC’s correspondent, Jeremy Bowen is considered “brave” for using the word genocide something is seriously amiss. There are still no plans to broadcast the documentary”Medics Under Fire” that the BBC had commissioned on the attacks on Gazan hospitals or to put back the documentary “How to survive a warzone” on iplayer that it removed because of complaints that the young narrator was the son of an official in Gaza and, therefore, part of Hamas.
The writer considers that the BBC and Gary Lineker have made mistakes and concludes that: “if the consequences of these mistakes grow out of proportion and affect the way BBC journalists and presenters report, the damage will be far greater. Not just to the BBC, but to all of us.”
LL
This article was originally published by The Guardian on Fri 23 May 2025. Read the original here.
This goes beyond Gary Lineker. The BBC risks coming apart over the Gaza war
Mistakes have been made by both the star and the corporation. That shouldn’t compromise urgent coverage of the conflict
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Hmm. I c an’t really agree with this piece thoughtful tho’ it is. There is no doubt in my mind that Samir Shah is weak and was never the respected journalist referred to. The baiting argument by Jewish groupsis farciccal in the circumstances. The lies coming out of Israel are monumental and rarely challenged by the BBC. The medical documentary if it had been shown might have stirred a greater challenge and served to provide the real story. The truth is the real story has not been shown by the BBC since October 7th. This adds up to be frank, in collusion in genocide perpetrated by BBC management and the politicians including Starmer and Lammy.
The BBC has been a cheerleader in the antisemitism smear and largely conforms to the Israel lobby, as the Guardian has also done and still does.
Both have had to work out how to report the obvious facts about Gaza without looking ridiculous by omission, and do so by emphasising humanitarian aspects.
The BBC may be on borrowed time as if a Reform/Tory coalition takes power it may be doomed as a public service broadcaster. Cancelling documentaries and people such as Lineker won’t save it.
PS There is a disgraceful article on Lineker in the Guardian by Barney Ronay:
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2025/may/24/gary-lineker-motd-bbc-antisemitism-row-israel-gaza
During the week, WATO played the reprimands of the three governments (UK, France, Canada) by the Israeli foreign secretary followed by an interview with Jake Wallis Simons with no effective questioning. I have complained to the BBC but have yet to have any real response.
The BBC (and Starmer’s Labour) are shockingly compromised by their collaboration with Israel. Everything they do (or fail to do) is filtered through a predetermined agenda. The damage done (to a liberal agenda of fairness and accountability) is incalculable. On the upside – it exposes their truth ….
I regularly have to switch off BBC radio news programmes because of the bias. Does anyone know of a radio news channel which is an effective alternative?
It’s deeply ironic that the BBC got itself in a complete panic over the identity and perceived impartiality of a Gazan child narrating a Panorama film, whilst having no qualms whatsoever about concealing the identities and affiliations of Labour Party “whistleblowers” and the accuracy of some of their statements. Or indeed the rather questionable record and impartiality of the film-maker himself.
Looks like in some parts of the BBC, “impartiality” is a bit of a one-way street.
On a slightly tangential note, but nevertheless related, it would be interesting if the BBC mentioned the former UK political career of Netanyahu’s spokesman, David Mencer.
It might shed some light on Starmer’s somewhat indifferent approach to Gaza.
Just read the Barney Ronay article referenced in the comment above. Sadly yet another journalist that I will no longer read the article reeks of jealousy and spite Just to let Barney Ronay know quite a few Zionist commentators use the symbol of rats about Palestinians and they are being anti semitic why didnt he reference that This idea that certain symbols are automatically anti semitic really needs to be discussed in a rational way. Is Gary Lineker anti semitic No did he make a genuine mistake Yes. Should he be able to discuss the genocide in Gaza Yes
The original article in the Guardian is a typical whitewashing of a situation that they have finally realised that has left them on the wrong side of history again
On Monday after the final Match of the Day of the season I will be cancelling by TV licence I urge everyone to do the same