Tell the BBC: Stop censoring Palestine

Last week the BBC removed the documentary “Gaza: How to Survive a Warzone”, which followed Palestinian children in the Gaza Strip who have been enduring and surviving Israel’s genocidal assault.

We know that this is only one example of the BBC contributing to the dehumanisation of Palestinians which includes its failure to adequately platform Palestinian voices and suppression of the contemporary and historical realities of Palestinian life and Israel’s decades long violations of Palestinian rights.

Will you write to the BBC’s Director General today to demand the BBC stops silencing Palestinian voices?

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<div>Dear Mr Davie,I am writing to express my deep concern following the BBC’s removal of the documentary “Gaza: How to Survive a Warzone” from its platform. This decision is part of a long-term pattern of the BBC contributing to the dehumanisation of the Palestinian people which includes its failure to adequately platform Palestinian voices and suppression of the contemporary and historical realities of Palestinian life and Israel’s decades long violations of Palestinian rights.As has been widely reported, the extent of the BBC’s pro-Israel bias has even led to widespread dissent among BBC staff who have said that coverage is skewed by senior figures to water down any criticism of Israel. Staff have complained of the BBC’s persistent promotion of Israeli narratives, highlighting that unlike Israeli sources, Palestinian sources need to be verified.This bias is clear whenever Israeli sources are cited or Israeli spokespeople are interviewed. On such occasions, the BBC systematically fails to highlight that Israel is currently on trial for genocide at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), that it has already been found guilty by the ICJ of violating the prohibition on racial segregation and apartheid, or that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is wanted by the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity and war crimes.Similarly, the BBC rarely draws attention to the fact that international journalists are banned from entering the Gaza Strip, whilst simultaneously casting doubt on Palestinian and pro-Palestinian voices, haranguing Palestinian guests, or silencing them completely.One particularly egregious example of this departure from journalistic standards was the corporation’s decision not to cover live the presentation of the case against Israel at the ICJ whilst streaming live Israel’s defence against the charge of genocide the following day.In this context, the removal of the documentary “Gaza: How to Survive a Warzone” from its online platform – one of the few occasions where the BBC has allowed Palestinians to speak the truths of their experiences – serves to further skew the BBC’s overall coverage in favour of Israel. It is shameful that the BBC has reached the point that it is now censoring Palestinian children. Any potential professional errors on the part of the BBC should not be used to try to justify the further erasure of Palestinian voices.I am therefore demanding that the BBC takes the following steps:<ul><li class="MsoNormal" style="border: none;">Restore the documentary to its platforms;</li><li class="MsoNormal" style="border: none;">Make clear that it will resist all future attempts by pro-Israel groups and figures within the government to censor Palestinian voices;</li><li class="MsoNormal" style="border: none;">Respond to the complaints from journalists and BBC staff to address the systemic pro-Israel bias at the BBC by committing to adhering to its own editorial values, including making explicit in its reporting Israel’s ban on journalists entering the Gaza Strip;</li><li class="MsoNormal" style="border: none;">Engage meaningfully with representatives of the Palestinian community in Britain to ensure that such incidents of censorship and misrepresentation are prevented from reoccurring.</li></ul></div>

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Tell the BBC: Stop censoring Palestine