Over 100 staff accuse BBC of 'Israel bias' in Gaza coverage

Hundreds of industry professionals have signed a letter addressed to BBC Director-General Sir Tim Davie, calling for more balanced and impartial coverage of Gaza amid the ongoing conflict in Israel.

The letter includes signatures from 230 individuals, including 101 anonymous BBC staff, who accuse the broadcaster of biased reporting favoring Israel.

Notable signatories include Sayeeda Warsi, a member of the House of Lords, actress Juliet Stevenson, and historian William Dalrymple.

The letter criticizes the BBC for not adhering to its own editorial standards and claims that its coverage of Gaza lacks "consistently fair and accurate evidence-based journalism."

The letter demands that the BBC report "without fear or favour" and calls for a recommitment to high editorial standards, emphasising fairness, accuracy, and impartiality.

The signatories propose a series of editorial commitments, including acknowledging that Israel does not provide external journalists access to Gaza, clarifying when there is insufficient evidence for Israeli claims, and ensuring that headlines accurately reflect the nature of Israeli actions.

A current BBC employee noted that some staff members have left the company due to dissatisfaction with its coverage.