The BBC has paid £28,000 in compensation to an Israeli family after a film crew entered their destroyed home without authorisation in the aftermath of the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attacks.
Intrusion into a shattered home
The payment was made to the Horenstein family from the village of Netiv HaAsara, near the Gaza border. According to a report by Jewish News, a BBC team, believed to be led by veteran correspondent Jeremy Bowen, filmed inside their damaged property without seeking consent.
The crew captured personal items, including photographs of the family's children, at a time when many friends and relatives were still unaware if the Horensteins had survived the assault. Tzeela Horenstein described how Hamas terrorists attacked the village early that morning, throwing a grenade at her husband, Simon.
The family, including their two young children, only escaped death because their front door twisted and jammed when attackers tried to blow it open with explosives.
"A camera as a weapon"
In a powerful statement to Jewish News, Tzeela Horenstein expressed her profound distress at the BBC's actions. "Not only did terrorists break into our home and try to murder us, but then the BBC crew entered again, this time with a camera as a weapon, without permission or consent," she said.
She described the incident as "another intrusion into our lives," adding, "We felt that everything that was still under our control had been taken from us." Mrs Horenstein emphasised that "even in times of war there are limits, and when a media outlet crosses them, it must be held responsible."
Apology and regulatory scrutiny
The compensation was paid after the family initiated legal proceedings in Israel. The BBC subsequently issued a written apology alongside the financial settlement. A BBC spokesperson stated: "While we do not generally comment on specific legal issues, we are pleased to have reached an agreement in this case."
This incident is not the first time the BBC's coverage of the conflict has faced criticism. Last year, Ofcom sanctioned the corporation for a breach of the Broadcasting Code in its documentary 'Gaza: How To Survive A Warzone' for failing to disclose a narrator's links to Hamas.
The October 7 attacks, in which Hamas-led militants killed around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducted 251 others, remain a deeply traumatic event for Israel, with ongoing repercussions for media conduct and accountability in conflict zones.
