The executive producer of the BAFTA TV Award-winning documentary Gaza: Doctors Under Attack used his acceptance speech to directly question the BBC, after the broadcaster initially commissioned but later shelved the film over impartiality concerns. The documentary, which features firsthand accounts from Palestinian health workers on the frontline detailing attacks on hospitals and clinics, was eventually broadcast by Channel 4.
Executive Producer's Challenge
Following the documentary's victory in the current affairs category at London's Royal Festival Hall on Sunday, executive producer Ben De Pear thanked the journalists who made the film before turning his attention to the BBC. He asked: 'Finally, just a question for the BBC: given you dropped our film, will you drop us from the Bafta screening later tonight?' The TV coverage of the awards was screened on BBC One from 7pm, with a delay of slightly more than two hours after the ceremony began.
Journalist's Statement
De Pear was joined on stage by journalist Ramita Navai, who said: 'Israel has killed over 47,000 children and women in Gaza. So far, Israel has bombed and targeted every single one of Gaza's hospitals. It's killed over 1,700 Palestinian doctors and health care workers. It has imprisoned over 400 in what the UN now calls the medicide. These are the findings of our investigation that the BBC paid for but refused to show. But we refuse to be silenced and censored. We thank Channel 4 for showing this film. Right now, there are over 80 Palestinian doctors and healthcare workers being held in detention centres that Israeli human rights groups describe as torture camps. We dedicate this award to them.'
Background on the Documentary
The BBC commissioned Gaza: Doctors Under Attack more than a year ago from independent production company Basement Films but had delayed airing it until an ongoing review into a different programme about the region was completed. The corporation later announced it would not show the film following concerns it may create 'a perception of partiality that would not meet the high standards that the public rightly expect'. The BBC had admitted it had paused production of the documentary because it felt it could not broadcast the film while a review into a separate Gaza documentary was ongoing. The BBC also said at the time that it was 'committed to covering the conflict in Gaza and has produced powerful coverage'.
