More than 100 BBC staff accuse broadcaster of Israel bias in Gaza coverage

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. In a letter sent to Tim Davie, signed by more than 230 members of the media industry, including 101 anonymous BBC staff, the corporation is criticised for failing its own editorial standards by lacking “consistently fair and accurate evidence-based journalism in its coverage of Gaza”. The letter also calls on the broadcaster to implement a series of editorial commitments including “reiterating that Israel does not give external journalists access to Gaza; making it clear when there is insufficient evidence to back up Israeli claims; making clear where Israel is the perpetrator in article headlines; including regular historical context predating October 2023; and robustly challenging Israeli government and military representatives in all interviews”. So many of us feel paralysed by the levels of fear.” Another said they were “losing faith in the organisation work for”, having seen a “huge disparity” in the BBC’s approach towards Israel. The BBC holds itself to very high standards, and we strive to live up to our responsibility to deliver the most trusted and impartial news – weighing and measuring the words we use, verifying facts, and seeking a wide range of interviews and expert opinion.” While acknowledging that the “BBC does not and cannot reflect any single world view”, a spokesperson insisted that it receives an almost equal measure of complaints asserting bias towards Israel as bias against it.