Channel 4 to broadcast Gaza documentary dropped by BBC

LONDON

Britain’s Channel 4 will air a controversial documentary about the experiences of medics in Gaza after the BBC opted not to broadcast it due to concerns over impartiality.

Gaza: Doctors Under Attack was originally commissioned by the BBC more than a year ago from the independent production company Basement Films.

It features first-hand accounts from Palestinian health workers on the frontline and examines alleged attacks on hospitals and medical facilities in Gaza.

Despite commissioning the film, the BBC delayed its broadcast, citing an ongoing internal review into another program about the region.

The corporation ultimately decided not to proceed with the broadcast, stating the film could give rise to “a perception of partiality that would not meet the high standards that the public rightly expect.”

The one-off documentary will now be shown on Channel 4 at 10 pm on Wednesday, July 2.

Channel 4 announced that the film has been “factchecked and compiled by Channel 4 to ensure it meets Channel 4 editorial standards and the Ofcom broadcasting code.”

Louisa Compton, Channel 4’s head of news and current affairs and specialist factual and sport, said “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.”

Basement Films, which has produced two previous documentaries on the war in Gaza since the Oct. 7, 2023 attacks by Hamas on Israel, described the making of this third instalment as their “most difficult.”

In a statement, the company said: “This is the third film we have made about the assault on Gaza since October 7th at Basement Films, and whilst none of them have been easy, this became by far the most difficult. As ever, we owe everything to our Palestinian colleagues on the ground; over 200 of whom have been killed by Israel, and the doctors and medics who trusted us with their stories. We want to apologize to the contributors and team for the long delay, and thank Channel 4 for enabling it to be seen.”