Even the BBC admits to its shocking antisemitic coverage – Here's what to know

The BBC has pledged to conduct a thorough review of its coverage of the Israel-Gaza conflict following disturbing revelations that several reporters associated with its Arabic-language service expressed antisemitic views. The announcement comes in response to growing criticism over the impartiality of BBC Arabic’s reporting on the war in the Gaza Strip.

BBC Chairman Samir Shah told The Times, “The issue of how we covered Israel-Gaza demands a thorough examination, particularly in our Arabic-language broadcasts. We are appointing an independent entity to review our coverage to ensure it meets our standards of fairness and accuracy.” The review will focus on BBC Arabic, where the problematic statements originated, though the BBC has not yet disclosed the timeline or the identity of the independent reviewer.

The controversy erupted after a Telegraph investigation uncovered inflammatory social media posts by Samer Al-Zaanin, a freelance journalist who has contributed to BBC Arabic.

In a July 2022 Facebook post, Al-Zaanin wrote, “When things don’t go right for us, shoot the Jews. That fixes everything.” In a 2011 post, he declared, “My message to the Zionist Jews: We will take back our land. We love death for the sake of Allah just as much as you love life. We will burn you as Hitler did, but this time we will leave nothing of you.”

Al-Zaanin also used the hashtag #WeAreAllHamas and praised over 30 terrorist attacks against Jews, describing the perpetrators as “heroes” and “martyrs.” He celebrated a ramming attack that killed two children and a 20-year-old, claiming the victims would “reach hell.”

A BBC spokesperson clarified that contributors like Al-Zaanin are not employees but provide "eyewitness accounts" from Gaza, where international journalists, including BBC staff, face restricted access due to security concerns. “We were unaware of their social media activity until it was brought to our attention,” the spokesperson said. “There is no place for antisemitism in our services, and we are addressing this matter with urgency.”

The BBC confirmed that it has suspended its collaboration with Al-Zaanin pending further investigation but has not publicly identified other reporters under scrutiny.

This is far from the first time the BBC has faced accusations of bias in its Middle East coverage. In October 2023, the corporation issued an apology after a reporter speculated on air, without evidence, that Israel was responsible for an explosion at Al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza, later attributed to a misfired Palestinian rocket. Understandably, it sparked distrust among viewers and led to demands for stricter editorial control.

The current controversy has intensified pressure from British Jewish organizations, including the Board of Deputies of British Jews, which has long criticized perceived anti-Israel bias in BBC reporting.

The group welcomed the review but urged the BBC to extend its scope beyond BBC Arabic to include all platforms. “Antisemitic rhetoric from anyone associated with the BBC undermines its credibility as a public broadcaster,” a spokesperson stated. Several UK lawmakers have also called for accountability, citing the need to restore public trust in the BBC’s journalism.

According to the Community Security Trust, antisemitic incidents in the UK reached record highs in 2024, with media coverage often cited as a contributing factor.

The Telegraph, The Times, BBC and Arutz Sheva contributed to this article.