The BBC has postponed the broadcast of a documentary about medical professionals operating in Gaza, opting to wait until a review into a separate, earlier programme has concluded, according to a report on Sunday.
The film, tentatively titled Gaza: Medics Under Fire, was reportedly scheduled for release in February. However, its transmission was halted following the backlash over How to Survive a Warzone, after it was revealed that the teenage narrator of that film was the son of a Hamas official, as reported by The Times.
The BBC’s decision to hold off on airing the Gaza medics documentary until after the internal review has sparked frustration within the production company, Basement Films, and among several NHS doctors involved in the project.
These doctors, who facilitated the BBC team’s connections with healthcare workers in Gaza, are said to be drafting a formal letter of complaint over the delay.
Basement Films expressed dismay at the BBC’s position, saying it was “deeply disappointed” that the documentary remains unaired.
Reports also suggest the BBC may have initially intended to proceed with the broadcast before changing course.
“There is no moral or professional reason why a mistake in one film should repeatedly prevent the release of another film,” the production company said, as reported by The Times.
A BBC insider told the London-based daily newspaper that alleged missteps in the previous film had left executives reluctant to move forward.
“The shortcomings identified in How to Survive a Warzone had left bosses ‘terrified’ of airing any documentaries about Gaza,” they said.
The review’s outcome is not expected to impact Gaza: Medics Under Fire, which was produced by a team of acclaimed filmmakers whose previous work has earned Bafta and Emmy awards. The documentary has already passed BBC legal checks.