Call for police probe after BBC money paid to Hamas family for controversial Gaza documentary

Police may investigate if the British broadcaster funded a banned terror organisation after payments were made to the family of a Hamas elder for their 14yo son to narrate the controversial film.

Abdullah Al-Yazouri is the narrator of the BBC documentary called Gaza: How to Survive a Warzone. Source: BBC.

The BBC faces a possible criminal investigation and has apologised for airing a highly controversial documentary set in Gaza which was narrated by Abdullah Al-Yazouri, the 14-year-old son of a Hamas leader.

An internal BBC investigation into the recent airing of Gaza: How to Survive a Warzone has uncovered payments to the sister of the teenage narrator, with politicians now demanding that Metropolitan Police begin an investigation into whether the media organisation has been funding terrorism.

In Westminster on Thursday, Labour Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said the BBC has to answer questions. Conservative MP Nick Timothy said “if there is evidence that BBC funds have reached Hamas – a proscribed terrorist organisation – there should be a full criminal investigation”. The Reform MP Richard Tice said: “Is the BBC incompetent, negligent, or just riddled with anti-Semitism?”

Issues surrounding the film include allegations that the subtitles were watered down. Source: BBC.

Previously the BBC has refused to describe Hamas as a terrorist organisation, referring to it instead as a militant group.

The documentary, which was produced by Hoyo Films, has been beset by issues since it was aired last week, including allegations that the subtitles were watered down and that the cameraman was a pro-Palestinian activist who celebrated the killing of Jews.

In parts of the documentary an independent group called the Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting and Analysis has found the filmmakers had incorrectly subtitled words from “the Jews” to “Israeli forces”. One woman praises the Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, saying he was “fighting and resisting Israeli forces”, according to the subtitles. Yet the committee found she had actually said “he was engaging in … jihad against the Jews”.

According to a researcher David Collier, the father of another child in the documentary had served in the Hamas police and been imprisoned in Israel for terrorism offences.

When these issues were brought to light this week the documentary was temporarily pulled from the BBC’s Iplayer service while an investigation began.

However 500 BBC stars – such as football pundit Gary Lineker, photographer Misan Harriman most famous for his pictures of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, and actor Miriam Margolyes – objected in a letter, claiming the film was essential journalism and taking it off air was politically motivated censorship. The letter also claimed the criticism was fuelled by a “weaponisation of identity”.

Hamas deputy minister of agriculture Dr Ayman al-Yazouri, is said to be Abdullah's father

However, on Thursday, after an initial review, the BBC acknowledged there were serious flaws in the making of the $800,000 program. The BBC confirmed the mother of al-Yazouri was given a limited sum of money, paid to her through his sister.

“‘One of the core questions is around the family connections of the young boy who is the narrator of the film,’’ the BBC said.

“ During the production process, the independent production company was asked in writing a number of times by the BBC, about any potential connections he and his family might have with Hamas.

“Since transmission, they have acknowledged that they knew that the boy’s father was a deputy agriculture minister in the Hamas government; they have also acknowledged that they never told the BBC this fact. It was then the BBC’s own failing that we did not uncover that fact and the documentary was aired.”

Further investigations are underway including a full audit of the making of the documentary.