Gaza documentary dropped by BBC to air on Channel 4
The United Kingdom’s Channel 4 has announced it will air a documentary on the plight of medics in Gaza after the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), which originally commissioned the work, opted not to air it.
The BBC commissioned Basement Films to make Gaza: Doctors Under Attack but decided not to run it, citing concerns it might create “a perception of partiality that would not meet the high standards that the public rightly expect,” according to a report by The Independent.
The BBC had delayed airing it, pending a review and discussions with Basement Films – talks that ultimately led to an impasse. The producers have since worked with Channel 4 on final fact-checks, and the documentary, which follows front-line health workers in Gaza amid attacks on hospitals, will air on July 2 at 10 pm GMT.
Louisa Compton, Channel 4’s head of news and current affairs and specialist factual and sport, said she felt strongly that the film should be aired. “This is a meticulously reported and important film examining evidence which supports allegations of grave breaches of international law by Israeli forces that deserves to be widely seen and exemplifies Channel 4’s commitment to brave and fearless journalism,” she said.
As for the BBC, this is just its latest Gaza-related controversy, as the broadcaster has faced repeated accusations of bias and pro-Israeli coverage. The United Kingdom’s official media watchdog, Ofcom, issued a public letter to the BBC earlier this year voicing its concerns over a lack of impartiality related to another programme covering Gaza. It warned that it would be keeping a close eye on the broadcaster’s future coverage.
EXCLUSIVE: Zeteo Acquiring Film About Gaza Doctors That BBC Refused to Air
https://zeteo.com/p/exclusive-zeteo-acquiring-film-about
General view of the Sheikh Redwan Health Center affiliated with UNRWA, a large part of which was destroyed during the attacks targeted by Israel in Gaza City on February 21, 2025
Zeteo is pleased to announce that we are acquiring and will be releasing globally the Gaza medics documentary produced by Basement Films ‘Gaza: Doctors Under Attack.’ The documentary was originally set to be released by the BBC, until it decided to reverse course amid a company review of a separate Gaza documentary and after several high-profile delays, it dropped it.
The film tells the testimony of Palestinian doctors and healthcare workers treating patients in Gaza and how they tried to do their work and survive amidst Israel’s military attacks on hospitals and healthcare workers (a breach of international law).
In May, over 600 hundred members of the film industry – including Oscar-winning actor Susan Sarandon and British filmmaker Mike Leigh – signed an open letter criticizing the BBC for delaying the release of the film, accusing them of censoring Palestinian voices.
