Over 100 BBC staff accuse network of pro-Israel bias in Gaza coverage

More than 100 staff members at the BBC have accused the corporation of giving Israel favourable coverage in its reporting on the war on Gaza.

A letter sent on Friday to BBC Director-General Tim Davie and Chief Executive Officer Deborah Turness criticised the broadcaster for providing “favourable coverage to Israel” and failing to uphold a “basic journalistic tenet” when holding Israel to account. 

The signatories included 230 people, among them 100 anonymous BBC employees, as well as media professionals, journalists, actors and academics. 

“The consequences of inadequate coverage are significant. Every television report, article and radio interview that has failed to robustly challenge Israeli claims has systematically dehumanised Palestinians,” the letter, first reported by the Independent, said.

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

The signatories urged the BBC to implement editorial commitments such as “reiterating that Israel does not give external journalists access to Gaza; making it clear when there is insufficient evidence to back up Israeli claims; making clear where Israel is the perpetrator in article headlines; including regular historical context predating October 2023; and robustly challenging Israeli government and military representatives in all interviews”.

Since Israel's war on Gaza began last year, Israeli forces have killed 183 Palestinian journalists among more than 43,300 killed overall.  

Last November, a month into Israel’s assault on Gaza, BBC journalists spoke to Al Jazeera, criticising the British corporation's coverage of the war and accusing it of a “double standard” compared to its reporting on Ukraine. 

The BBC has defended its coverage of the war and said on Friday: “When we make mistakes or have made changes to the way we report, we are transparent."

A spokesperson added: “We are also very clear with our audiences on the limitations put on our reporting - including the lack of access into Gaza and restricted access to parts of Lebanon, and our continued efforts to get reporters into those areas.”