‘Israel must be held accountable for its actions,’ the staff said, noting that failure to do so dehumanizes Palestinians.
The BBC has been criticized by more than 100 of its staff for providing favorable coverage of Israel in its coverage of the Gaza war, and has been criticized for lacking “accurate, evidence-based journalism”.
“There has been a lack of basic journalistic principles in holding Israel accountable for its actions,” said the letter sent on Friday to the broadcaster’s director-general, Tim Davie, and CEO Deborah Turness.
First reported by The Independent newspaper on Friday, signatories included more than 100 unnamed BBC staff, more than 200 media industry figures, historians, actors, academics and politicians.
“The consequences of inadequate coverage are serious. “Every television report, article and radio interview that fails to forcefully challenge Israel’s claims systematically dehumanizes the Palestinian people,” the letter said.
Israel’s war on Gaza has killed at least 43,259 Palestinians and injured 101,827 since October 7, 2023. Hamas-led attacks that day left some 1,139 people dead and more than 200 taken prisoner in Israel.
“We reiterate that Israel does not grant outside journalists access to the Gaza Strip,” the signatories told the BBC. Clarifies when there is insufficient evidence to support Israel’s claims. The headline of the article makes it clear that Israel is the perpetrator. Includes general historical context prior to October 2023. “I strongly challenge representatives of the Israeli government and military in every interview.”
The letter said British media organizations including the BBC, ITV and Sky “enjoy a high level of public trust” and have a “duty to courageously follow the evidence”.
It also pointed out that the BBC “is funded by license fees and its own editorial standards are being eroded, putting its impartiality and independence at serious risk”.
Last November, a month after Israel began its war in Gaza, eight British journalists employed by the BBC wrote a letter to Al Jazeera, saying the BBC had a “double standard in how it views civilians”. There is “no wavering” in reporting on alleged Russian war crimes in Ukraine.
“This organization does not represent us,” one of the co-writers told Al Jazeera.
“For me, and certainly for other people of color, it’s blatant that certain civilian lives are seen as more valuable than other civilian lives, and there’s a kind of hierarchy at play.”
Israel’s war has now expanded into Lebanon, where Israeli attacks have killed at least 2,897 people and wounded 13,150 since the war in Gaza began.
The BBC has defended its coverage of the Gaza war.
“We are transparent when we make mistakes or change the way we report,” a BBC spokesperson said, according to British media reports on Friday.
A spokesperson said: “We have also been very clear to our audience about the restrictions placed on our reporting, including lack of access to the Gaza Strip and restricted access to parts of Lebanon, and our ongoing efforts to take reporters to the area.” He added:
