Counter terror police could launch a probe after the production company behind a BBC documentary admitted it had paid the family of a senior Hamas official.
The programme, Gaza: How to Survive a War Zone, was removed from BBC iPlayer last month after it was revealed the child narrator, a 14-year-old boy named Abdullah, is the son of a senior Hamas official.
The corporation revealed on Thursday night that the boy’s mother was paid by Hoyo Films ‘via his sister’s bank account’ for his involvement in the documentary.
The revelation prompted a coalition of politicians and campaigners to demand counter terror police investigate whether licence-fee cash ended up in the bank accounts of terrorists.
A Metropolitan Police spokesman said last night: ‘We’re aware of a BBC documentary about Gaza and we have received a number of reports raising concerns.
‘Officers from the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command are currently assessing whether any police action is required in relation to this matter.’
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy organised an emergency meeting with the BBC’s chair, Samir Shah, yesterday afternoon to discuss the organisations ‘serious failings’.
Ahead of the meeting, Ms Nandy demanded that ‘no stone is left unturned’ in a fact-finding review ordered by the BBC’s Director General.
Counter terror police could launch a probe after the production company behind a BBC documentary admitted it had paid the family of a senior Hamas official.
Gaza: How to Survive a War Zone, was removed from BBC iPlayer last month after it was revealed the child narrator, a 14-year-old boy named Abdullah, is the son of a senior Hamas official
The row over the BBC’s documentary, Gaza: How To Survive A Warzone, spilled on to the streets of the capital on Tuesday evening as anti-Hamas protesters arrived outside Broadcasting House in Portland Place, London
She added: ‘This review must be comprehensive, rigorous and get to the bottom of exactly what has happened in this case.’
But this has done little to allay outrage as campaigners demand ‘arrests’ are made if it is found the BBC paid money to terrorists.
Lord Ian Austin, a former Labour MP who now sits as an independent peer, told the Daily Mail: ‘Surely those who oversaw the making of this program should be sacked for the very serious professional and moral failings.
‘The Met must immediately investigate whether the BBC allowed public money to end up in the hands of terrorists.
‘There must be an independent enquiry into how this documentary was made and if anyone is found responsible for paying or overseeing the payment of license-fee money to Hamas they should face the full force of the law.’
Alex Hearn, Co-Director of Labour Against Antisemitism added: ‘Counter terrorism police must now investigate what happened and if necessary arrests should be made.
A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: ‘A national treasure has become a national embarrassment.
In a statement the national broadcaster revealed that the boy’s mother had been paid ‘via his sister’s bank account’ for his involvement in the documentary
‘The BBC has now admitted that licence fee funds were paid to the family of a senior Hamas official.
‘It has not yet been able to rule out that further payments to Hamas were made as it continues to investigate where hundreds of thousands of pounds went.
‘Clearly those responsible must lose their jobs.
‘We are among those who have reported the BBC to Counter Terrorism Policing, which is now investigating.
Luke Akehurst, Labour MP said: ‘I expect far better from our national public broadcaster.
‘It’s the latest but one of the most shocking examples of their bias in their Middle East coverage.
‘They really need to get their act together to restore their reputation for impartial coverage.’
The BBC said they had been assured by independent production company Hoyo Films that no payments were made to ‘Hamas or its affiliates’
Protesters pictured with signs calling the BBC ‘spokespeople for terrorists’ outside their headquarters in London
Protesters gathered outside the BBC offices in London during a demonstration against the broadcaster’s Gaza documentary
Abudullah, the son of a senior Hamas official, seen in the BBC’s controversial documentary Gaza: How to Survive a War Zone
The BBC’s director-general Tim Davie and the corporation’s chairman will also face questions from MPs about the programme on Tuesday at the culture, media and sport committee.
On Thursday the BBC published an apology about the now disgraced documentary.
They admitted that ‘serious flaws’ had been identified ‘ in the making’ of the programme.
A BBC spokesperson added: ‘During the production process, the independent production company was asked in writing a number of times by the BBC, about any potential connections he and his family 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.
A woman pictured outside the BBC headquarters holding signs in protest of the documentary
Protesters outside the BBC building pictured with Israeli and British flags as they condemned the corporation for their documentary
The senior Hamas officials son was featured heavily in the documentary and even narrated it
Another Palestinian boy seen in the BBC documentary Gaza: How to Survive a War Zone
‘It was then the BBC’s own failing that we did not uncover that fact and the documentary was aired.
‘Hoyo Films have told us that they paid the boy’s mother, via his sister’s bank account, a limited sum of money for the narration.
‘While Hoyo Films have assured us that no payments were made to members of Hamas or its affiliates, either directly, in kind, or as a gift, the BBC is seeking additional assurance around the budget of the programme and will undertake a full audit of expenditure.’
A spokesperson for Hoyo Films added: ‘We are cooperating fully with the BBC and Peter Johnston to help understand where mistakes have been made.
‘We feel this remains an important story to tell, and that our contributors – who have no say in the war – should have their voices heard.’
The BBC said this week it had not been aware of the narrator’s family links during the making of the programme. It added that the independent production company had acknowledged it had never told the BBC of who the boy’s father was.
