Filmmakers behind the documentary Gaza: Doctors Under Attack, which investigates reported Israeli military strikes on hospitals in Gaza, have criticised the BBC after the broadcaster declined to air the film, citing concerns over impartiality.
The documentary, which was later broadcast by Channel 4, won in the Current Affairs category at the BAFTA TV Awards on Sunday. It also received a nomination for Best Director: Factual.
The BBC’s decision not to air the film had previously drawn attention, particularly as it had commissioned the investigation but chose not to broadcast it. During the awards ceremony, executive producer Ben de Pear questioned the broadcaster’s stance, referring to the decision to drop the project.
Journalist Ramita Navai also used her acceptance speech to criticise the BBC, stating that the documentary’s findings had not been shown by the broadcaster despite being commissioned. She said the team would “not be silenced or censored” and thanked Channel 4 for airing the film.
According to reports, the BBC did not broadcast Navai’s full remarks during its delayed BAFTA coverage on BBC One, instead airing an edited version that excluded references to Israel.
The BBC declined to broadcast the documentary following internal concerns over impartiality. The decision came shortly after criticism of another BBC documentary that featured narration by a child whose father was later identified as a Hamas official, a detail that had not been disclosed in the programme.
Speaking after the ceremony, de Pear praised Gaza-based journalists who contributed footage to the documentary, noting the risks faced by reporters working in the conflict zone. He said the production team had been in constant concern for the safety of their contributors on the ground.
The controversy adds to ongoing debate over editorial standards, media impartiality, and coverage of the Gaza conflict across international broadcasters.