BBC Refuses to Air Gaza Aid Appeal

The BBC has itself made news by refusing requests to air a charity appeal for the people of Gaza following the destruction there that has left more than 50,000 homeless. British news channel Sky has joined the BBC in refusing to air a message from the Disasters Emergency Committee asking for donations for Palestinians affected by the recent conflict. Citing the need to remain impartial and apolitical in their coverage of the situation in the Middle East, BBC has drawn wide criticism from prominent voices in politics, religion, and the media. Not being able to count on free airtime to broadcast the appeal, the DEC reports more difficulty in raising awareness and funds. The DEC is not a political group and many have said that the sudden calling on "editorial independence" to justify not airing the aid appeal is itself a political decision. In the past the DEC has gotten airtime to request aid for victims of sensitive political-military situations without British broadcasters worrying that granting that space would be a political move or speak to an editorial ideology.



Does the BBC have an obligation to use its public role to give access to those seeking to direct towards war victims or is its mission as completely removed from the conflict more important? With this issue many question how giving time to “endorse” Palestinians affected by the Israeli invasion is an endorsement of Hamas that would undermine the objectivity of the Beeb. In fact by publicly refusing to give voice to these appeals, critics now wonder if the BBC is trying to deny the extent of the devastation inflicted on Gaza by the IDF. What many see as a politicization of a humanitarian crisis by the BBC has provoked questions of what political impartiality the BBC can claim. The BBC is playing with the consideration of not wanting to appear aligned politically towards the Israelis or Gaza in this conflict or incite controversy. It seems a dangerous amount of sensitivity to avoid appearing biased towards the victims of violence.