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Daily Mail
a day ago
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Anger as Gaza documentary producer allegedly celebrated Palestinian terrorists as 'martyrs' - including one who gunned down Jewish boy, 14, and six others in Holocaust Memorial Day killing spree
A producer of a Gaza documentary axed by the BBC over impartiality concerns - but later shown on Channel 4 - is accused of having called a terrorist who brutally gunned down seven Israeli s as a 'martyr' and of previously having shared 'celebratory' footage of the October 7 attacks. Gaza: Doctors Under Attack, was originally commissioned by the BBC more than a year ago. However, the corporation paused its production in April following the launch of an investigation into another documentary, Gaza: How To Survive A War Zone, which featured the son of a Hamas minister - a fact omitted by filmmakers. Instead, Channel 4 aired the documentary, made by Basement Films, on July 2 after saying it had gone through 'rigorous fact-checking and extensive compliance processes'. The broadcaster had concluded the film was 'duly impartial'. But concerns have now arisen over social media posts shared by Osama Al Ashi, one of the two Gazan producers of the documentary, The Telegraph claims. In one, the producer is said to have described Khairi Alqam as a 'martyr' on January 27, 2023, the same day the 21-year-old from East Jerusalem carried out a deadly mass shooting in the settlement of Neve Yaakov. The settlement is considered illegal under international law, although Israel disputes that view. Seven people were killed, including a 14-year-old child, after Alqam opened fire on worshippers leaving a synagogue on Holocaust Memorial Day. The terrorist was shot dead shortly afterwards by police as he fled from the scene. It is also claimed that in a now-deleted post, Ashi shared a video montage of photographs showing Alqam alongside the caption: 'The martyr Khairi Alqam – may God have mercy on him and forgive him'. Ashi is also said to have shared footage on October 7, 2023, showing Hamas terrorists flying into Israel by paraglider and described them as 'the resistance'. A caption underneath his post reads: 'These are the videos that settlers are now circulating of the resistance storming and infiltrating the occupied territories in the Gaza Strip.' Ashi was also said to have shared a video on October 7, 2023 to TikTok showing Hamas rockets being fired into Israel. He is additionally said to have called a Hamas terrorist who shot three Israelis as a 'wounded hero' while sharing social media posts during rising violence between Israel and Hamas in 2016. In response to the claims put to him, Ashi deleted several social media posts and told The Telegraph his posts 'have absolutely nothing to do with Hamas.' The producer added he only wanted to share news and updates through reposts, and he did not have 'time to analyse' the material shared on October 7, 2023, due to the rapidly developing nature of events. However the Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting and Analysis (Camera UK), a media monitoring organisation, said the sharing of such posts has raised red flags. A Camera UK spokesman said: 'A producer who celebrates the deaths of Israeli civilians on what he sees as 'the other side', and who appears unable to distinguish them from legitimate military targets, cannot be considered an impartial observer.' Basement Films defended Ashi and said claims put forward by The Telegraph posed a threat to his safety. A spokesperson said: 'Osama has not posted anything himself about Oct 7 but shared news and other posts on social media as it was breaking, and The Telegraph interpretations of these tweets are misleading.' Channel 4 previously said it had fact-checked Gaza: Doctors Under Attack, to ensure the documentary met editorial standards and the Ofcom Broadcasting Code. Louisa Compton, Channel 4's head of news and current affairs and specialist factual and sport, issued a statement at the time saying: 'We are showing this programme because we believe that, following thorough fact-checking and verification, we are presenting a duly impartial view of a subject that both divides opinion and frequently provokes dispute about what constitutes a fact. 'Channel 4 has a strong tradition of putting uncomfortable reporting in front of our audiences. 'In doing so, we know we will antagonise somebody somewhere sometime. But we do it because we believe it is our duty to tell important journalistic stories – especially those that aren't being told elsewhere.' The BBC announced in June that it would not broadcast Gaza: Doctors Under Attack after concerns over impartiality. 'We wanted the doctors' voices to be heard,' the broadcaster said in a statement. 'Our aim was to find a way to air some of the material in our news programmes, in line with our impartiality standards, before the review was published. 'For some weeks, the BBC has been working with Basement Films to find a way to tell the stories of these doctors on our platforms.' But, the corporation added it would no longer be possible to air the documentary. 'We have come to the conclusion that broadcasting this material risked creating a perception of partiality that would not meet the high standards that the public rightly expect of the BBC. 'Impartiality is a core principle of BBC News. It is one of the reasons that we are the world's most trusted broadcaster. 'Therefore, we are transferring ownership of the film material to Basement Films.' The debate arose just months after critics were enraged by the BBC's failure to disclose the narrator of Gaza: How to Survive a War Zone was the son of a senior member of Hamas. It was originally broadcast on BBC Two on February 17 with the aim of showing a 'vivid and unflinching view of life' in the strip. The documentary was made by two producers based in London who remotely directed two cameramen on the ground over nine months. However, independent investigative journalist David Collier discovered one of the child narrators, Abdullah, was the son of a Hamas government minister and grandson of one of Hamas's founding members. Using Facebook and publicly available data online, Mr Collier found the young narrator was the son of Gaza's deputy minister of agriculture, Dr Ayman Al-Yazouri. This meant his grandfather is Hamas founder Ibrahim Al-Yazouri, previously jailed by Egypt and Israel for involvement in proscribed groups. The BBC subsequently apologised, with a spokesperson for the corporation saying at the time: 'Since the transmission of our documentary on Gaza, the BBC has become aware of the family connections of the film's narrator, a child called Abdullah. 'We've promised our audiences the highest standards of transparency, so it is only right that as a result of this new information, we add some more detail to the film before its retransmission. 'We apologise for the omission of that detail from the original film.' A BBC report published earlier this week concluded the documentary, which was pulled from iPlayer in February, had breached editorial guidelines on accuracy. The review also found three members of independent production company Hoyo Films knew about the family connections of the narrator, but the BBC did not. BBC staff however were not 'sufficiently proactive' with their editorial checks.
Telegraph
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
Gaza documentary producer celebrated Palestinian terrorists as ‘martyrs'
A producer of a controversial documentary on Gaza called a terrorist who shot dead seven Israeli civilians on Holocaust Memorial Day a 'martyr', The Telegraph can reveal. The Channel 4 film Gaza: Doctors Under Attack was billed as a 'forensic investigation' into claims the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) were deliberately targeting Palestinian medics in a systematic campaign to cripple Gaza's hospitals. But one of the two Gazan producers, Osama Al Ashi, had previously described Palestinian terrorists as 'martyrs' and has been accused of posting 'celebratory' footage of the Oct 7 2023 attacks on social media. The Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting and Analysis (Camera UK), a pro-Israel monitoring organisation, said it raised questions about the producer's objectivity and the documentary's impartiality. A Camera UK spokesman told The Telegraph: 'A producer who celebrates the deaths of Israeli civilians on what he sees as 'the other side', and who appears unable to distinguish them from legitimate military targets, cannot be considered an impartial observer.' The documentary, made by Basement Films, an independent production company, proved controversial even before it was broadcast. It was originally commissioned by the BBC, but the broadcaster decided it 'risked creating a perception of partiality that would not meet the high standards that the public rightly expect of the BBC.' Earlier, in February, the corporation had been forced to remove a Gaza documentary by a different production company from iPlayer. It had emerged that the child narrator of Gaza: How To Survive A Warzone was the son of a Hamas government minister. In light of this, the BBC reviewed Gaza: Doctors Under Attack and decided to axe it. Channel 4 acquired the film, stating it had carried out 'thorough fact checking and verification' to ensure it met its editorial standards and the Ofcom Broadcasting Code. The film aired on July 2. But it is now known that, in an Instagram post on Jan 27 2023, Ashi, a producer from Gaza, described Khairi Alqam, a 21-year-old terrorist from East Jerusalem, as a 'martyr'. Earlier that day – Holocaust Memorial Day – Alqam drove to a synagogue in the Israeli settlement of Neve Yaakov, took out a handgun, and opened fire on worshippers leaving the building. This settlement is recognised as being illegal under international law. The attack, the most deadly in Israel by a Palestinian gunman since 2008, resulted in the deaths of seven Israeli civilians. The youngest was a 14-year-old child. Alqam was shot dead by police as he fled on foot. Ashi responded to the attack by posting a commemorative video showing photos of the terrorist, captioned 'the martyr Khairi Alqam – may God have mercy on him and forgive him', a common Arabic condolence message. The clip is a slideshow of photos of the gunman in various settings, including wearing a bow tie and three-piece suit, and posing in sunglasses beside a car on a mountain road, set to melancholic music. Mr Alqam has not been formally linked to any terror group and could have been motivated by personal trauma and a desire for revenge. His grandfather, also his namesake, was stabbed to death in 1998 by Chaim Pearlman, a Jewish extremist from the Kach movement. Pearlman was legally represented by Itamar Ben-Gvir, now Israel's Minister of National Security. Nine months later, on Oct 7 2023, as Hamas launched its attacks on Israel, Ashi posted videos on his social media. On Instagram, he shared footage of Hamas terrorists flying into Israel by paraglider as dawn broke over the Gaza Strip, set to an uplifting Islamic song encouraging fighting against oppressors. The clip contains the footage of the attack overlaid with the Arabic lyrics: 'Fill the earth with Takbir [the praise of God] – to shake the oppressors.' He captioned it: 'These are the videos that settlers are now circulating of the resistance storming and infiltrating the occupied territories in the Gaza Strip.' A Camera UK spokesman commented on the clip, saying: 'The video Mr Ashi posted on Oct 7 combined with rallying against 'oppressors' is celebratory of terror atrocities that were carried out against Israelis.' On TikTok, Ashi posted another video on Oct 7, this time showing Hamas rockets being fired into Israel, accompanied by an excitable child's voice saying: 'Go, go!' He captained the video 'keep going, oh Mahdi, keep going!' adding two fire emojis and a laughing-crying emoji. The Mahdi is a messianic figure in Islam expected to appear at the 'end of times' to defeat evil and bring justice. Camera UK also said Ashi had made several social media posts during the intensification of hostilities between Israel and Gaza in 2016, including one calling a Hamas member involved in the shooting of three civilians a 'wounded hero'. 'We are presenting an impartial view' Announcing the decision to air the documentary, Louisa Compton, Channel 4's head of news and current affairs, said: 'We are showing this programme because we believe that, following thorough fact-checking and verification, we are presenting a duly impartial view of a subject that both divides opinion and frequently provokes dispute about what constitutes a fact.' Earlier this week, Deborah Turness, the BBC's head of news, revealed it was concerns over the 'social media activity' of a journalist involved in Gaza: Doctors Under Attack that prompted them to pause production. She said the decision to drop the film came after its reporter, Ramita Navai, said during a BBC radio interview that Israel was ' a rogue state that's committing war crimes and ethnic cleansing and mass-murdering Palestinians'. The revelations about the producer's social media activity have now prompted calls, including from a former head of BBC Television, for the media regulator Ofcom to investigate. Danny Cohen, who oversaw the BBC's television networks from 2013 to 2015, said: 'Ofcom should launch an investigation immediately.' He added: 'Channel 4 has serious questions to answer on why they saw fit to broadcast this documentary. They have broadcast a programme in collaboration with those who appear to revel in the violent death of Jews and presented it as journalism. 'It is shameful. Channel 4 should be deeply embarrassed.' Lord Austin, a non-affiliated peer and former Labour MP, said: 'The hateful social media posts by the producer on this film are really shocking. 'Ofcom should launch an investigation into why Channel 4 saw fit to broadcast this film made by someone who appears to glory in the murder of Jews.' 'Wounded hero' Earlier posts from Ashi include one, dated June 8 2016, in which the producer, then aged 20, called Khalid Al-Muhamra, a Hamas member, a 'wounded hero' and described his cousin Muhammad as a 'martyr'. The two men had opened fire that evening on diners at the Max Brenner Cafe in Tel Aviv's Sarona Market, killing three civilians, with a fourth later dying of a heart attack. Both were arrested alive. A month later, on July 1 2016, Ashi posted an apparent reference to the fatal shooting of Rabbi Michael Mark, a 48-year-old father of ten, who had just been killed by a Palestinian gunman while driving with his wife and two children through the South Hebron Hills. Citing a news report of the attack, Ashi appeared to praise the terrorist's aim, writing 'either hit like this or not at all' alongside a smiley face emoji. A spokesman for the Jewish Leadership Council, which represents the largest Jewish organisations in the UK, including synagogues, care organisations, and education charities, told The Telegraph that Ashi's involvement in the film was 'a betrayal of basic journalistic standards'. 'That this documentary was produced by someone with such a horrific track record of glorifying terror is not just a betrayal of basic journalistic standards; it fuels the anti-Israel bias which has been linked to anti-Semitism in the UK.' 'My posts have nothing to do with Hamas' Osama Al Ashi said: 'My posts have absolutely nothing to do with Hamas. And I only cover and repost the news and updates. I only fear that these allegations will worry my family and friends and that the situation will develop into a direct threat. 'You know how the army deals with us here in Gaza. I hope that this article will not be highlighted in the responses and its content will be explored in depth in the media. 'When Oct 7 happened, there was a rush to post videos, and I shared them because there was extensive coverage of the events, and I did not add the audio. They were simply reposts done quickly as part of event coverage. I did not have time to analyse them.' A spokesman for Basement Films said: 'Osama has not posted anything himself about Oct 7 but shared news and other posts on social media as it was breaking, and The Telegraph interpretations of these tweets are misleading. 'This story puts his life at risk. A record 230 journalists have been killed doing their jobs in Gaza. 'It is shocking to us that Danny Cohen and Camera should seek to justify the killing of medics including Dr Khaled Hamouda's wife and 7-year-old daughter, because of some social media posts. 'By doing so they appear to be supporting every aspect of Israel's assault on Gaza, including the killing of at least 17,000 children.' 'Rigorous fact-checking' A Channel 4 spokesman said: 'Gaza: Doctors Under Attack is an important piece of public service journalism that has been through rigorous fact-checking and extensive compliance processes from Channel 4. 'We stand by this forensically researched film and are satisfied it is duly impartial, accurate and compliant with the Ofcom Broadcasting Code. 'Foreign journalists are banned from reporting inside Gaza. In line with other media organisations, the producers of Gaza: Doctors Under Attack used Palestinian journalists. 'According to the UN more than 200 journalists in Gaza have been killed during this conflict.'
Irish Times
05-07-2025
- Politics
- Irish Times
Letters to the Editor, July 5th: On doctors under attack, school admissions, and grand plans
Sir, – Channel 4 deserves great credit for broadcasting Gaza: Doctors under Attack which was aired on July 2nd (the BBC having changed its decision on broadcasting it) – as do Basement Films for having made it, and all those who bravely contributed to it. This powerful documentary should be shown on RTE – and made available on YouTube. Having said that, as a retired doctor, the documentary sickened me. For those who didn't see it, Gaza: Doctors under Attack portrays how Israel has systematically targeted hospitals, doctors, and other healthcare workers in Gaza to purposely destroy 'the one thing that Palestinians need most: its healthcare system'. Commencing with Gaza's main hospital, al-Shifa, and as shown by a UN Human Rights report in December 2024, the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) have used a standard sequence of assaults on all of Gaza's hospitals: airstrikes, blocking of access and medical supplies by ground troops, use of tanks and bulldozers, detainment of medical staff and patients and those taking shelter, forced evacuation, withdrawal of troops after rendering the hospital non-functional. READ MORE The scenes are graphic and highly disturbing: patients and staff being shot, emaciated children on intravenous drips, horrific injuries, medical staff digging graves for adults and children in the hospital grounds, beds with patients in them being dragged into the streets to avoid being shot. In addition to this, there are allegations of the targeted killing of medics (including in their homes and with family members), and the imprisonment, torture, rape, disappearance, and death of others in detention – as well as the abuse of prisoners by some Israeli doctors. The documentary includes the, by now, customary denials of wrongdoing by the Israeli authorities without evidence being presented (a) to refute the allegations being convincingly made (using the testimonies of detainees, whistleblowers, human rights activists and video footage taken by IDF and prison personnel) or (b) to back up IDF claims that Hamas is using the hospitals for military purposes. The denials are also implausible given the cumulative evidence that has emerged from Gaza, which includes the chilling statistic of more than 57,000 dead, including more than 1,400 healthcare workers. On the day the programme was screened, the death of Dr Marwan al-Sultan, a renowned and highly experienced cardiologist and the medical director of the Indonesian Hospital in Gaza was announced. He was the 70th healthcare worker to be killed in Gaza in the last 50 days. There is an urgent need for a ceasefire and for all the hostages to be returned and for medical aid (and food) to pour into Gaza and for hospitals and healthcare workers to be protected – as well as the need for a long-term plan to rebuild the health service. In this context, there is now an urgent need for doctors and other healthcare workers individually and collectively to raise their voices – as well as medical schools and professional training bodies around the world (including in Ireland). Israeli doctors, many of whom work in world-class hospitals in Israel, also need to have the moral courage to raise their voices in support of their Palestinian colleagues who continue to work under attack in the most appalling and dangerous of circumstances down the road from them. If we remain silent, we are also complicit. – Yours, etc, CHRIS FITZPATRICK, Terenure, Dublin. Sir, – Niall McCann's excellent article ('Why is the United Nations not doing more on Gaza,' July 3rd) contains one of the most frustrating statements that sums up the tragedy that is happening there. He mentions Bosnia in the 1990s where the UN authorised Nato to impose a no-fly zone. So, if the UN had similarly bravely imposed this policy on Israel any time in the last 600-plus days of genocide how many thousands of Palestinian lives would have been saved? We are all complicit at this stage – Yours, etc , JUDY BURKE, Rosscarbery, Co Cork. Gaza children and visas Sir, – Your report ( ' Evacuation of ill children from Gaza stalls over visas ,' (July 4th) refers to the visas in question being for accompanying family members of critically ill children, some of whom have died waiting. You also report elsewhere that while one- third of Ukrainian refugees have left, there are still 80,000 in the State. What has happened here? Did we expend all our humanity on Ukraine? Have we none left for the victims of a genocide? Why can we not take all the families of these children and many more besides? Our Government has expressed many fine words to the world about the horrors of Gaza, but cannot seem to convert those words to even this small action. Our hypocrisy is staggering. – Yours, etc, DR EDEL McGINNITY, Mulhuddart, Dublin 15. Sir, – Ireland alone cannot stop the genocide in Gaza. Nor can we evacuate the entire population. But surely we can evacuate a few children. If they have families here, good. If not, surely families can be found for them? – Yours, etc, Ben Aveling, Ranelagh, Dublin. Health is wealth Sir, – A thought for the day: It occurs to me that we'd all be healthier and wealthier if we could switch the Revenue Commissioners to run Health and the HSE to run the Revenue . – Yours, etc, JOHN H. DOCKRELL, Foxrock, Dublin. It will never catch on Sir, – I only recently realised that the Irish Times e-paper subscription, as well as giving today's paper, also gives you the newspaper from the same day one, two, five, ten, 25 and 50 years ago. I now regularly read the 50-year-old one from when I was a teenager and totally uninterested in current affairs. Depressingly, many of the topics are similar today as back then; economy, inflation, energy, middle east conflict, etc. Today, the edition from June 2nd, 1975 had a little report in the motoring section ) on the production of the first British electric car. The Enfield 8000 cost £2,808 had a rust-free aluminium body and was powered by eight lead-acid batteries with a range of 55 miles but limited to 40 mph top speed. It has taken a very long time for the EV concept to catch on and contemporary EVs are a far cry from the Enfield 8000 but we're getting there! – Yours, etc, MARTIN HOWLEY, Carrigaline, Co Cork. Calling time on no comment Sir, – With regard to the Ranelagh charging arm, the real question is why did 'Dublin City Council not respond to requests for comment'? (' Dublin electric car owner ordered to remove 'unauthorised' charging arm by council , July 3rd). Who do they think they are? They work for us! If they don't want to talk about a specific case they can give general advice on the use of these devices or suggest real alternatives. The media should be chasing down CEO Richard Shakespeare on a weekly basis to explain these and other decisions about our city. It really is time for an elected executive mayor with a budget. – Yours, etc, MICHAEL O'LEARY, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4. Our friends in the North Sir, – Newton Emerson makes some salient points in respect of cross-Border student fees (' Fees for students from Republic in NI need to rise ,' July 3rd). Unfortunately, he slips into the usual blinkered thinking that has bedevilled cross-border mobility when he writes: 'One-third of students from Northern Ireland who want a local place are unable to get one, forcing them to study in Britain, where they have to pay the maximum fee anyway.' They are not forced to study in Britain. They could come South, where fees, even if they go back up to €3,000, would be just over a quarter of the sum to be paid in Britain (¤11,000). Yes, the cost of living is higher here, so some of the savings on fees may be needed for living expenses. And the poor A Level points equivalencies have been a handicap, though that has been removed now on the back of recommendations by a Universities Ireland working group that I chaired in 2023. If only our schools in the North gave students as much support for the CAO system as they do for UCAS, cross-border mobility for Northerners could be addressed. It is high time that they did so, and that they were helped to do so. If only for the sake of keeping more of our youngsters and their obvious talents closer to home. – Yours, etc, PROF PÓL Ó DOCHARTAIGH, University of Galway, Galway. Gaming the education system Sir, – Is it a rule for thee (the poor) and a rule for me (the rich) in modern education? An article by Carl O'Brien details how the deans of the medical schools in Ireland have met and are arranging plans to reduce the weighting of the Hpat aptitude test. ('C olleges to alter entry requirements for medicine amid concern applicants 'gaming' aptitude test ,' July 1st). The article highlights how 'gaming' the system is the perceived flaw of the Hpat exam. It struck me that the comment section related to the article was flooded with comments to the anecdotal tune of 'I know someone who got 625 points but, due to the Hpat, couldn't study medicine.' Surely, by now, we have concluded that being book smart is not the sole indication of the skill of a future doctor? I note that a well-known private 'grinds' school in Dublin, in 2020, had over 100 students achieve 600-plus points. Did these students also not 'game the system' by attending a private institution? Why is it okay to 'game' the Leaving Cert but not the Hpat? –Yours, etc, JAMES BOURKE, Kanturk, Cork. School admissions Sir, – I am writing in response to the article, (' New school admissions system for second-level schools to be piloted in five towns in October ,' July 3rd). While I believe this pilot is a step in the right direction, it ultimately fails to tackle the root cause of the problem. The current system's fundamental flaw lies in the existence of overlapping catchment areas, which actively encourages parents to apply to multiple schools. This therefore leads to 'long waiting lists and months of stress' and 'duplicate applications'. A single application form merely streamlines the submission of these multiple, often redundant, applications; it does not eliminate the underlying incentive for them. A far more effective and equitable solution would be to implement a system where schools have clearly defined, non-overlapping catchment areas. If every residential address falls within the designated catchment of one, and only one, second-level school, then the need for multiple applications vanishes. Parents would know precisely which school their child is entitled to attend, subject to capacity. If capacity for a particular school regularly comes under pressure then the redrawing of its catchment area would be necessitated. The pilot system, while well-intentioned, risks becoming a more efficient way to manage an inherently inefficient, unfair and stressful process. – Yours, etc, SEAN KEAVNEY, Castleknock, Dublin 15. Grand plans and infrastructure Sir, – I read with some dismay about the the grandiose plans of Transport Infrastructure Ireland to significant expand the Luas network. (' Future of the Luas: suburban routes and circular services around Dublin by 2050 ,' July 1st). In many ways this is symptomatic of the calamitous problem that continually bedevils getting any project done in Ireland. A large State agency with a large cohort of senior staff launches lofty plans, containing great ambition, no doubt having engaged many experts (not cheap) along the way in its compiling. The report or study is published, perhaps along with a media launch, maybe a government minister is present and it is handshakes all around. Let's be honest. We are codding ourselves here. Years later nothing has happened, the report or study got 'shelved' and perhaps many of the senior personnel involved are long retired. A small suggestion would be 'shelve' this approach. Instead, why not target small but realistic projects and get them built? In the case of the Luas why not construct small extensions each year or target a line say from Broombridge to Dublin Airport (I note that this is ruled out for 'operational' reasons, whatever they are). Rather than grandiose plans which remain just that why not pick a project and drive it on, less is more as is often said and what's more it might actually get done. – Yours, etc, ROB MAC GIOLLARNÁTH, Annascaul, Co Kerry. Counting the carbon cost Sir, – Your recent editorial, and letters drew attention to the issue of costs versus aesthetics in design for public buildings / infrastructure . However, what is truly depressing is the absence of discussion of the carbon cost, as opposed to the financial costs of such projects. Any discussion of these issues without a clear focus on the true cost to the planet is empty. After all, cement contributes about 8 per cent of all greenhouse emissions worldwide. We should not be embarking on such projects without serious consideration of the overall costs (to the planet) against perceived benefits (to whom?). Between artificial intelligence perhaps displacing the need for many jobs, and working from home obviating the need for more office space, not to mention the obvious need for a steep reduction in air traffic – it is surely time to realistically re-evaluate what our priorities should be. – Yours, etc, PAUL O'SHEA, Shankill, Dublin. A popular population Sir, – With reference to your article in today's article: ( 'The people behind the numbers as Ireland's population grows by nearly a third in 20 years, ' (July 3rd) showing Ireland's population increasing to over five million: When I in the course of my 'maiden speech' at the L & H society in UCD in January 1950 voted against the motion that we should unite with England politically, I stated that we had three million people and the audience immediately rose to its feet with thunderous applause! – Yours, etc, SEÁN Ó CEALLAIGH, Dublin 7
Metro
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
Gary Lineker claims BBC should 'hold heads in shame' for shelving Gaza film
Gary Lineker has blasted the BBC for refusing to air the Gaza: Doctors Under Attack documentary. The former Match of the Day presenter, who fronted the BBC's flagship programme for 26 years until his exit at the end of the football season campaign in May, has taken aim at his former employer with a blunt rant. The documentary, which was originally commissioned by the BBC and produced by an independent company, explored the healthcare system in Gaza and the impact of Israeli military operations. Last month, the broadcaster decided against airing the programme themselves, saying in a statement that it 'risked creating a perception of partiality that would not meet the high standards that the public rightly expect of the BBC'. Instead, producers Basement Films were allowed to shop the documentary around, with Channel 4 airing it earlier this week. At a London screening of the documentary on Thursday, Lineker spoke on stage and described the piece as 'one of the most important films I've ever seen, certainly the most moving'. 'It needed to be seen. It really did need to be seen,' the retired footballer added, before turning his attention to the BBC. He said: 'I think the BBC should hold its head in shame. I've worked for the corporation for 30 years; to see the way it's declined in the last year or two has been devastating.' Lineker also claimed that people at the BBC are 'bowing to pressure from the top', adding: 'This is a worry… Complicity is something that will come to many.' When asked for comment, the BBC directed Metro to its latest statement, in which the broadcaster said it has 'produced powerful coverage of this conflict'. The statement continued: 'Alongside breaking news and ongoing analysis, we have produced award winning documentaries such as Life and Death in Gaza, and Gaza 101. 'We have also investigated allegations of abuse of Palestinian prisoners and Israel's attacks on Gaza's hospitals. 'Just today [June 20] we are running a powerful piece of longform journalism that captures the final two weeks inside a Gaza hospital before it was forced to close. 'We want to thank the doctors and contributors and we are sorry we could not tell their stories. The BBC will continue to cover events in Gaza impartially.' Lineker was initially set to cover the 2025-26 FA Cup and 2026 World Cup for the BBC following his Match of the Day departure, but he left early after an antisemitism row. At the time, the 64-year-old 'apologised unreservedly' after sparking controversy for sharing and then deleting a video on his Instagram account from the group Palestine Lobby he did not realise was illustrated with a picture of a rat. Acknowledging he had caused 'error and upset', Lineker said in a statement that exiting the broadcaster seemed the 'responsible course of action.' He said: 'I care deeply about the game, and about the work I've done with the BBC over many years. As I've said, I would never consciously repost anything antisemitic – it goes against everything I stand for. View More » 'However, I recognise the error and upset that I caused, and reiterate how sorry I am. Stepping back now feels like the responsible course of action.' Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: TV fans all say the same thing as the soaps are taken off air MORE: Melania Trump joins Donald in welcoming Gaza hostage who was 'very important' to her MORE: Jermaine Jenas reveals he 'lost everything' in BBC sacking after sexting scandal
Daily Mirror
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Gary Lineker fights back tears as he says BBC should 'hold its head in shame'
Gary Lineker has slammed the BBC for not airing a documentary on the doctors in Gaza less than six weeks after his 26-year run presenting Match of the Day came to an end in acrimonious circumstances An emotional Gary Lineker says that the BBC should 'hold its head in shame' for refusing to air a documentary about doctors working amid the conflict in Gaza. Lineker, 64, left his role as host of Match of the Day in May, having presented the show for 26 years. His departure came after he shared a social media post which included a rat emoji, an animal historically used to represent Jews in antisemitic propaganda. Lineker deleted the post and issued multiple apologies but the decision was made for him to leave the BBC altogether a year earlier than planned. Now the former England striker has hit out at the broadcaster over a documentary which they refused to air over impartiality concerns, resulting in backlash. 'Gaza: Doctors Under Attack' was commissioned and paid for by the BBC as the bloody Israel-Gaza conflict continues. According to the Independent, it was given six different transmission dates across January and February but its premiere kept getting pushed back. Now Channel 4 has the rights to the documentary which was made by Basement Films. At a screening on Thursday evening, Lineker gave his reaction while holding back tears. "One of the most important films I've ever seen, certainly the most moving. I might need a minute here," he told the audience. "It needed to be seen. It really did need to be seen. I think everyone would agree with that. I think the BBC should hold its head in shame. "I've worked for the corporation for 30 years; to see the way it's declined in the last year or two has been devastating really. I've defended it and defended it against claims that it is partial." He added: "It talks about impartiality all the time. The truth is at the moment, at the very top of the BBC, not the BBC all over, because as you know there are thousands and thousands of people who work at the BBC that are good people that understand what is going on here and can see it. "We're seeing it on our phones everyday. The problem is they're bowing to pressure from the top and this is a worry. I think the time is coming where a lot of people are going to be answerable to this and complicity is something that will come to many." On June 20, the BBC explained its decision to not air the documentary, saying: "For some weeks, the BBC has been working with Basement Films to find a way to tell the stories of these doctors on our platforms. "Yesterday, it became apparent that we have reached the end of the road with these discussions. We have come to the conclusion that broadcasting this material risked creating a perception of partiality that would not meet the high standards that the public rightly expect of the BBC." Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
