Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Gaza: BBC Coverage

Thursday 27 February 2025 · 14 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 5 Partly answered 8 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Stuart Andrew questioned the BBC's coverage of Gaza, highlighting the need for accuracy and impartiality.
  • Max Wilkinson acknowledged the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the need to tell stories of Palestinian children accurately.
  • Naz Shah thanked the Secretary of State for addressing the issue and requested updates on the situation in Gaza.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Stuart Andrew Con Daventry
Culture, Media & Sport
Context

Following allegations that a recent documentary about life in Gaza, 'Gaza: How to Survive a Warzone', was narrated by the son of a senior Hamas figure and possibly used public funds, concerns have been raised over the BBC's adherence to its editorial guidelines on proscribed terrorist organisations like Hamas. The documentary's content has also been questioned regarding changes made post-broadcasting.

Question

I am grateful to the Secretary of State for that answer. The documentary 'Gaza: How to Survive a Warzone' was broadcast by the BBC on 17 February, purportedly showing everyday life in Gaza. As the UK’s public broadcaster, the BBC has a duty to provide accurate and impartial news and information, especially regarding highly sensitive events. However, it is clear that the BBC has fallen far short of those standards. After airing, reports emerged about the narrator's connection to Hamas; initially defended by the BBC but later withdrawn due to public backlash. Additionally, alterations were made in Arabic translations, changing 'Yahud' and 'Yahudy' to 'Israel' or removing them entirely. There are also allegations that up to £400,000 in public funds might have indirectly supported Hamas. Given these issues, I must press the Secretary of State further: did she make it clear to the BBC that they had fallen short on standards? Did she receive assurances that taxpayers’ money was not funnelled to Hamas? Does she support a full independent inquiry into this and wider allegations of bias against Israel? What commitments has she received from the BBC to ensure this does not happen again, including any potential criminal investigations?

Answer from Lisa Nandy (The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport)

I thank the right hon. Gentleman for bringing this matter to the House and raising it with me. In media interviews I made it clear that Hamas is a proscribed terrorist organisation in the UK, and I believe they are guilty of heinous acts of terrorism over many years. I have held discussions with the BBC director general at my request to seek urgent answers about checks and due diligence regarding the documentary 'Gaza: How to Survive a Warzone', including its commissioning, payment, and use of licence fee payers’ money. I sought assurances that no money paid has fallen into Hamas's hands. The BBC maintains operational independence from the Government, but it is crucial for them to uphold high standards of reporting and governance as expected by the public. Ofcom acts as an independent regulator to ensure the BBC fulfils its obligations under the charter and broadcasting code.

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Q2 Max Wilkinson Lib Dem Cheltenham
Foreign Affairs
Context

In response to an urgent question, concerns were raised about the BBC's decision to pull a documentary due to errors in production. The humanitarian situation in Gaza is severe, with 2% of the child population killed or injured and many more orphaned or homeless.

Question

I commend the Secretary of State for her response to the urgent question; we agree with the position being taken. I cannot imagine what it must be like to be a Palestinian child in Gaza. Given this humanitarian catastrophe, does the Secretary of State agree that, regardless of today’s discussion, it is vital to shine an ongoing, credible and sustained spotlight on the plight of children in Gaza?

Answer from The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (Lisa Nandy)

Yes, and I thank the hon. Gentleman for his careful and considered words on this. In the last year I met with the British families of some of the children in Gaza and the stories are absolutely horrifying. We have a duty to ensure that those stories are told, and that people can have confidence in what they are being told.

Answered
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Q3 Naz Shah Lab Bradford West
Culture, Media & Sport
Context

Following the decision to pull a documentary due to errors, there are concerns about transparency and accountability in media reporting on Gaza. The Secretary of State has been addressing these issues.

Question

I thank the Secretary of State for getting to grips with this issue so quickly and acknowledging that what happened on 7 October and what happened subsequently in Gaza is of huge significance; her understanding gives me hope. Will she commit to coming back to this Chamber and updating us on the outcome of whatever happens with the BBC investigation?

Answer from The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (Lisa Nandy)

I am happy to say to my hon. Friend, who has a long-standing interest and has been a real champion for children in Gaza for many years, that I will be more than happy to keep colleagues updated as this progresses and to update the whole House at the earliest opportunity.

Answered
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Q4 Caroline Dinenage Con Gosport
Culture, Media & Sport
Context

The BBC has faced criticism for its handling of a documentary related to the Gaza conflict. Questions have been raised about the organization’s due diligence processes.

Question

The BBC has definitely got questions to answer here, not just on the dealings over this film but on the wider concerns about the representation and reporting of the Gaza conflict. As the Secretary of State said, Hamas are a proscribed terrorist organisation yet they are referred to as such in just 7.7% of instances of reporting by the BBC. It took four days after broadcast for this programme to be taken off iPlayer, and at that point the BBC said there had to be further due diligence with the production company. How confident is the Secretary of State that the board is providing the necessary challenge to executives to maintain that due diligence and to maintain the trust in the organisation?

Answer from The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (Lisa Nandy)

The hon. Lady is absolutely right that the BBC board plays the critical role in ensuring that the BBC reaches the highest possible standards, which she and I, and indeed all Members of this House, expect. They will have heard her words and mine loud and clear: we expect them to play that role. They must do that, and part of my job is to hold them to account for what they do and do not do in relation to this.

Answered
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Q5 Greg Smith Con Mid Buckinghamshire
Community Security Culture, Media & Sport
Context

Concerns have been raised about the accuracy of translations in a recent BBC documentary on Gaza, including mistranslations that could be perceived as pro-Hamas or antisemitic.

Question

I listened carefully to what the Secretary of State said and welcome her clear criticism of this documentary, but may I return to some of the—at best—mistranslation that happened during the documentary? Instances of the Arabic words for “Jews” were changed to “Israeli” and, possibly worst of all, one interviewee praised the Hamas leader for his “Jihad against the Jews”, yet the BBC translated that to “fighting Israeli forces”. That is not an error in Google Translate; it is clearly a deliberate attempt to completely misinterpret the approach towards Hamas and the situation in the middle east. Can she give me an assurance that she will be robust in challenging those translations, because those terms are clearly antisemitic and take a pro-Hamas, pro-terrorist viewpoint?

Answer from The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (Lisa Nandy)

I am more than happy to give the hon. Gentleman that assurance. I discussed the precise use of language with the BBC director general earlier this week. On the question asked by the hon. Member for Gosport (Dame Caroline Dinenage), I also discussed the use of the full term “a proscribed terror organisation” by the UK Government and the frequency with which that term is used by the BBC. I made it clear that I, as the Secretary of State, believe that it is incredibly important that the BBC adheres to its own guidelines.

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Q6 Melanie Ward Lab Cowdenbeath and Kirkcaldy
Culture, Media & Sport
Context

There are ongoing challenges for journalists covering the conflict in Gaza, with restrictions imposed by both sides. This affects the quality of reporting on the ground.

Question

Hamas are a proscribed organisation and that is as it should be. The Israeli military has banned international journalists from Gaza and at least 162 Palestinian journalists have been killed in Gaza in the last 500 days. Does the Secretary of State agree that BBC and all media coverage of Gaza can only benefit from journalists being allowed in to report on the ground, a point raised with me by some constituents in the past few weeks? Does she further agree that journalists must be protected from harm, in line with international law?

Answer from The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (Lisa Nandy)

I pay tribute to my hon. Friend for the work that she has done over many years, including as the director of Medical Aid for Palestinians. She knows better than anyone in this House what is happening in Gaza—I think she may be the only Member of the House who has recently been in Gaza to see the conditions that many hon. Members have described. I very much agree with her point about journalistic access and safety.

Answered
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Q7 Chi Onwurah Lab Newcastle upon Tyne Central and West
Culture, Media & Sport
Context

Following concerns about a BBC documentary's portrayal of events in Gaza, the MP raises specific issues related to subcontracting, translation standards, and reporting on illegal statements.

Question

Since the Hamas atrocities of 7 October, tens of thousands of Gazans have been killed by Israeli forces, and hundreds of thousands more have been subject to unimaginable suffering. It is essential that their stories be told and it is unacceptable that the BBC should have chosen to tell them through those connected to Hamas. We understand that the BBC is not allowed into Gaza, so will the Secretary of State confirm where this programme was subcontracted and to whom? On the issue of translation, does the BBC not have a translation guide? Is that publicly available? If not, should it be? Finally, when Israeli Ministers and others call for the ethnic cleansing of Gaza or for the elimination of the Palestinian people, surely that must be reported in a way that highlights that that is illegal and the cause of immense distress to many in this country?

Answer from Lisa Nandy

My hon. Friend speaks powerfully about the careful use of language and the way in which we all have a responsibility to uphold the highest standards on that. On her specific question, having had discussions with the BBC, I can confirm that this was not a BBC programme; it was commissioned by an external organisation. That in no way absolves the BBC from the responsibility to undertake due diligence on a programme that it airs. When it is aired by our national broadcaster, it is granted the legitimacy of our national broadcaster, and that is why these standards matter. I will take away her suggestion about a publicly available translation guide, which might help to assuage some of the concerns raised by the hon. Member for Mid Buckinghamshire (Greg Smith), and discuss that with the BBC.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not confirm who commissioned the programme or whether a translation guide is publicly available.

How: Did Not Specify

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Q8 Brendan O’Hara SNP Argyll, Bute and South Lochaber
Culture, Media & Sport
Context

Concerning the BBC documentary that raised significant criticism for its portrayal of events in Gaza, the MP asks about potential contact with Israeli embassy before the programme was pulled.

Question

It is essential that the editorial independence of the BBC is protected at home and abroad. Will the Secretary of State tell the House whether she or anyone in her Department had contact, formally or informally, with the Israeli embassy about the documentary before it was pulled from iPlayer? And will she say when contact was first made between her and the BBC, between the programme being airing and then being pulled from iPlayer?

Answer from Lisa Nandy

No.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide any additional context or information beyond a simple 'no'.

How: Did Not Elaborate

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Q9 Yuan Yang Lab Earley and Woodley
Foreign Affairs Culture, Media & Sport
Context

Highlighting the broader issue of media access to Gaza, the MP asks for assurance from the Secretary of State regarding safeguarding British media interests.

Question

I thank the Secretary of State for her very clear statement. The bigger picture that the Opposition are missing here is that the British media at large have greatly suffered from a lack of access in Gaza during the deadliest war on record for journalists. My former colleagues have variously been denied entry and had unnecessarily prolonged and risky exits, and our Palestinian contributors have been stuck in a living nightmare. Will the Secretary State ensure that she continues to safeguard British media interests and their reporting abroad and work with Foreign Office colleagues to enlarge access for journalists in Gaza?

Answer from Lisa Nandy

I am very happy to give my hon. Friend that assurance. As I said in answer to an earlier question, my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has raised this issue, and he and I are working very closely together on it. My hon. Friend will be aware that the BBC World Service plays a critical role in ensuring that free and fair information is available all over the world, which is why we rightly expect the highest standards from the BBC.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not confirm any specific actions to enlarge access for journalists in Gaza.

How: Did Not Specify

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Q10 Iqbal Mohamed Ind Dewsbury and Batley
Community Security Culture, Media & Sport
Context

A letter from more than 100 BBC staff and over 200 media professionals criticized the BBC for biased coverage in its reporting of the Gaza war, citing a lack of accurate, evidence-based journalism. The letter highlighted systematic dehumanization of Palestinians through inadequate coverage.

Question

The Secretary of State is asked what steps are being taken to investigate and address unacceptable and biased pro-Israel anti-Palestinian reporting by the BBC since 7 October to regain trust from those in this House and licence fee payers.

Answer from The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (Lisa Nandy)

While expressing agreement on the need to address genuine inaccuracies and misrepresentations in reporting, the Secretary of State emphasizes that antisemitism has no place in the arts or broadcasting. She highlights ongoing efforts with the Jewish community to address concerns about unacceptable practices within broadcasting and the arts.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide specific steps being taken to investigate allegations or restore trust, instead focusing on addressing antisemitism and maintaining standards.

How: Changing Subject, Acknowledgment Without Specifics

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Q11 Jack Rankin Con Windsor
Culture, Media & Sport
Context

The BBC has been accused of using £330,000 of taxpayers' money for legal fees related to the 2004 Balen report on coverage of Israel-Palestine conflict, raising questions about why the findings have not been made public.

Question

Does the Secretary of State agree that there are valid questions as to why the BBC has refused an independent inquiry into its reporting practices and the suppression of the 2004 Balen report findings?

Answer from The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (Lisa Nandy)

Acknowledging valid questions about the BBC’s practices and refusing to submit to independent inquiries, she emphasizes that the BBC is expected to maintain high standards due to its importance in British public life. She confirms the government's determination to hold it accountable.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not commit to urging an inquiry or publishing the Balen report findings.

How: Acknowledgment Without Commitment

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Q12 Shockat Adam Ind Leicester South
Foreign Affairs Children & Families
Context

The ongoing conflict in Gaza has resulted in the loss of over 47,000 lives, including numerous children and aid workers. The questioner raises concerns about contextual reporting and accountability.

Question

Does the Secretary of State agree that children cannot be held accountable for their parents' actions or is this a policy of collective punishment? Also, will she acknowledge the government's support for Gaza despite difficult decisions?

Answer from The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (Lisa Nandy)

Agrees that children should not be held responsible but notes importance of context in reporting. Acknowledges the UK's support efforts through humanitarian funding and diplomatic engagement despite challenging decisions.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not address holding BBC staff accountable for failings or measures to ensure editorial standards.

How: Acknowledgment Without Specifics

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Q13 Martin Vickers Con Brigg and Immingham
Culture, Media & Sport
Context

The UK media landscape has diversified, but the Secretary of State is asked about the importance of maintaining high standards at the BBC given its status as a national institution.

Question

Does the Secretary of State agree that it is vital to trust our national broadcaster and maintain the highest possible editorial standards?

Answer from The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (Lisa Nandy)

Agrees that the UK expects more from the BBC because it is a treasured national broadcaster. Acknowledges importance of ensuring all broadcasters meet high standards, especially concerning conflicts like Israel-Palestine.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide concrete steps or measures to ensure editorial standards are raised.

How: Acknowledgment Without Specifics

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Q14 Jim Shannon DUP Strangford
Culture, Media & Sport
Context

The BBC has been criticized for biased reporting since the 7 October conflict, leading to concerns about the broadcaster’s editorial standards and accountability of staff.

Question

Will the Minister hold the BBC cameraman and staff accountable for their failings and introduce measures to prevent dissemination of misleading, biased content?

Answer from The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (Lisa Nandy)

Raises issues around the documentary in question and general reporting during her meeting with the BBC director general. Stresses expectations for highest standards and indicates a review covering areas raised by the hon. Member.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not specify concrete measures or investigations to address failings or improve editorial practices.

How: Acknowledgment Without Specifics

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