The BBC has been accused of being a propaganda tool for Hamas after using the the son of a senior Hamas official to narrate a documentary.
The hour long film, Gaza: How to Survive a Warzone, was broadcast on Monday evening, intending to show the conflict through the eyes of the children living on the strip since the October 7 Israel attack.
However, the chosen narrator was a 14-year-old boy, Abdullah Al-Yazouri, who is reportedly the son of Hamas deputy minister of agriculture Dr Ayman Al-Yazouri.
One of the documentary’s cameramen is also said to have previously posted messages in support of the October 7 attack and videos showcasing Hamas weapons.
The identities of those involved have been revealed by investigative journalist David Collier.
READ MORE: Former BBC TV director slams Israel coverage - 'Risk becoming Hamas propaganda'
Writing on X, Mr Collier said: "The two photographers followed these children around for months. They absolutely knew who he was. Did either of the producers?
"How did the BBC let a son of a Hamas minister walk around looking for sympathy and demonising Israel for an hour in a BBC documentary?"
The journalist posed questions to the state broadcaster, asking: "Did you pay them any money? Did you hand cash over to a family from a proscribed terrorist group?
"Asking for the police.... and the millions of Brits who fund you."
He continued: "The BBC is publishing Hamas propaganda.
"The current hierarchy at the BBC has turned a once respected state broadcaster into a propaganda outlet for a radical Islamic terror group."
The BBC has now faced furious criticism as Conservative Baroness Foster posted: "A total lack of accurate research resulted in an hour of propaganda and lies."
READ MORE:
Despair as youngest Israeli hostages aged 2 and 5 held by Hamas 'are dead' [LATEST]
Pro-Palestinian protesters splatter BBC headquarters with red paint [PICTURES]
Hamas caves in midst of ceasefire deal fears as it makes pledge on hostages [REPORT]
The campaign group Labour Against Antisemitism has lodged a formal complaint to the broadcaster, claiming they did not thoroughly vet those in the documentary.
Alex Hearn, from Labour Against Antisemitism, said: "This documentary appears to have been a failure of due diligence by the BBC, with Hamas propaganda promoted as reliable fact at the taxpayers’ expense.
"There needs to be an urgent investigation into how this happened once again.
"Misinformation is the story of the Israel-Hamas conflict, and this is not an isolated case. There has been a failure of news platforms to adequately scrutinise sources and a willingness to regurgitate Hamas disinformation repeatedly."
Abdullah featured in a Channel 4 report in November 2023 shortly after Israel retaliated in Gaza. Yet he appeared under a different name with a man called Khalil Abushammala, who was said to be his father.
It is now revealed that Abushammala is actually his uncle and director of a Palestinian prisoners campaign group, Al Dameer.
The group has reportedly been linked to the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), a designated terrorist organisation by the US, the EU, Canada, and Israel.
The BBC has defended the documentary, saying it was produced in line with the broadcaster's guidelines.
A BBC Spokesperson said: "Gaza: How to Survive a Warzone, a documentary showing the conflict through the eyes of three children in Gaza, was produced in line with BBC editorial guidelines and the BBC had full editorial control. The film told the children’s own stories, showing viewers their direct experiences of living through a war, and the children’s parents did not have any editorial input.
"As the BBC has previously explained, the film was edited and directed from London, as independent international journalists are not allowed into Gaza. The film gives audiences a rare glimpse of Gaza during the war, as well as an insight into the children’s lives, it hears the voices of other Gazan civilians, several of whom voice anti-Hamas sentiments."