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The BBC apologised on Thursday for “serious flaws” in its documentary Gaza: How to Survive a Warzone after news emerged that the Palestinian child narrating the film was the son of a former minister in the Hamas-run Gaza government.

The documentary, which initially aired on BBC Two, features 14-year-old Abdullah Al-Yazouri chronicling his life in Gaza. The BBC pulled the programme from its streaming service last week after it found out that Abdullah’s father, Dr Ayman Al-Yazouri, was the former deputy minister of agriculture in Gaza.

According to the Middle East Eye, Dr Al-Yazouri previously worked for the UAE’s education ministry and studied at British universities.

Despite pressure from prominent actors, directors, and journalists, who signed an open letter urging the broadcaster to halt what they describe as “censorship on Palestine”, the BBC removed the documentary from the BBC iPlayer — its on-demand video service.

The letter, addressed to BBC Chair Samir Shah, Director General Tim Davie, and content chief Charlotte Moore, was published by Artists for Palestine UK.

‘Serious flaws’

The BBC said in a press release that the review had identified “serious flaws in the making of this programme”, which was produced by UK company Hoyo Films.

The broadcaster said that it shared the blame for the “unacceptable” flaws with the production company.

“BBC News takes full responsibility for these and the impact that these have had on the Corporation’s reputation. We apologise,” it added.

The independent production company was asked in writing “a number of times” during the making of the documentary about any potential connections the narrator might have with Hamas.

“Since transmission, they have acknowledged that they knew that the boy’s father was a deputy agriculture minister in the Hamas government; they have also acknowledged that they never told the BBC this fact,” said the press release.

“It was then the BBC’s own failing that we did not uncover that fact and the documentary was aired.”

The production company also revealed that they paid the boy’s mother “a limited sum of money” for the narration. Meanwhile, the BBC is seeking additional assurance that no money was paid directly or indirectly to Hamas.

Protests against the documentary

UK Culture Minister Lisa Nandy told parliament earlier Thursday that she had demanded “cast-iron” guarantees that Hamas did not receive any money for the documentary after the opposition Conservative party brought an urgent question and called for a public inquiry.

“I also held discussions with the BBC director general earlier this week, at my request, in order to seek urgent answers about the checks and due diligence that should have been carried out,” she added.

The revelations sparked an angry response and led to protests outside the BBC’s London headquarters.

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism (CAA) said: “The BBC’s bias and lack of accountability have led it to a new low, where it is a mouthpiece for terrorists and their supporters.”

The broadcaster is now working to determine whether any disciplinary action is warranted “in relation to shortcomings in the making of this programme”.

“This will include issues around the use of language, translation and continuity that have also been raised with the BBC,” it said.

Open letter protesting removal

The open letter protesting the documentary’s removal includes high-profile signatories such as former England footballer Gary Lineker, actor Riz Ahmed, Match of the Day host Gary Lineker, veteran filmmaker Ken Loach, and Top Boy creator Ronan Bennett. Other notable figures lending their names to the protest include Game of Thrones actor Indira Varma, The Crown’s Khalid Abdalla, Bridgerton star India Amarteifio, and veteran actors Miriam Margolyes and Juliet Stevenson.

“Conflating such governance roles in Gaza with terrorism is both factually incorrect and dehumanising,” the letter states. “This broad-brush rhetoric assumes that Palestinians holding administrative roles are inherently complicit in violence — a racist trope that denies individuals their humanity and right to share their lived experiences.”

The letter warns that the BBC’s actions set a dangerous precedent that could undermine journalistic integrity. The letter calls How to Survive a Warzone “an essential piece of journalism, offering an all-too-rare perspective on the lived experiences of Palestinian children living in unimaginable circumstances, which amplifies voices so often silenced.”

Signatories argue that the removal of the documentary signals that Palestinian narratives are only acceptable if they pass arbitrary “purity tests.”

The letter accuses the BBC of failing its duty of care to the documentary’s young contributors, particularly Abdullah Al-Yazouri. “Weaponising family associations to discredit a child’s testimony is both unethical and dangerous,” the letter states. It argues that the censorship violates the BBC’s own International Safeguarding Policy, which prioritises the safety, privacy, and dignity of minors.

The documentary was initially broadcast on February 17.