BBC reporters criticize broadcaster over its pro-Israel bias, coverage of Palestine

LONDON

BBC reporters based in the UK have criticized the broadcaster for its "pro-Israel bias and insufficient coverage of Palestinian civilians compared to Israelis in their broadcasts on the Israel-Palestine issue," Al Jazeera reported Thursday.

“The BBC failed to critically approach Israel's claims, couldn't tell the story accurately, and therefore couldn't help the public understand human rights violations in Gaza,” said a letter written to Al Jazeera by eight BBC employees.

In the letter, the reporters accused BBC of showing a biased stance in favor of Israel.

They alleged that while the BBC demonstrated a "bold" approach in reporting on the alleged war crimes committed by Russia in Ukraine, it applied a "double standard" in how civilians are perceived in the Israel-Palestine issue.

It also questioned when the number of Palestinians killed since the Israel-Hamas war began on Oct. 7 would be high enough to prompt a change in the editorial stance.

In the letter, the BBC reporters said the organization uses terms like "massacre" and "brutality" only for Hamas, portraying the Palestinian group as the sole provocateur and perpetrator of violence in the region.

The letter called for the BBC to better reflect evidence-based findings from official and impartial humanitarian organizations and to give equal treatment to all civilians in its news coverage.

The BBC employees also called on the broadcaster to ensure that coverage treating all civilians equally is at the center of its news and expressed concern that humanitarian broadcasts on Palestinian civilians were lacking while giving extensive coverage to Israelis who lost their lives in attacks.

The letter also pointed out that the BBC did not provide significant information to its viewers about the history of Israel's occupation and the suffering of Palestinians.

BBC denies allegations

"Throughout our coverage of the conflict, the BBC has clearly highlighted the devastating human cost for civilians in Gaza and Israel,” said a spokesman for BBC regarding the claims.

The spokesman also sent examples from the BBC's war-related broadcasts and a list of human interest stories about the suffering of Palestinians.

*Writing by Esra Tekin in Istanbul