DayofPal– A 13-year-old Palestinian boy, Abdullah Al-Yazuri, has accused the BBC of failing to protect him after the broadcaster pulled a documentary he narrated about children suffering in war-torn Gaza.
The film, Gaza: How To Survive a Warzone, was removed from BBC iPlayer just days after airing on February 17, following pressure from pro-Israel groups and sections of the British media.
The decision has sparked widespread criticism from journalists, politicians, and former diplomats, who accuse the BBC of bowing to external pressure and abandoning its duty of care.
Abdullah, who lived through Israel’s ongoing war on Gaza, which has killed at least 48,380 Palestinians, had hoped the documentary would highlight the suffering of children in the besieged territory. Instead, he and his family have been subjected to harassment and threats.
“I did not agree to the risk of me being targeted in any way before the documentary was broadcasted on the BBC,” Abdullah told MEE. “So [if] anything happens to me, the BBC is responsible for it.”
The controversy erupted after British media outlets revealed that Abdullah’s father, Ayman Al-Yazuri, is a deputy minister in Gaza’s government, which is administered by Hamas. He has since been labeled a “Hamas chief” and “terror official” by critics, despite reports indicating he is a technocrat with a scientific rather than political background.
Following the film’s removal, Abdullah said he has faced “mental pressure” and fears for his safety.
The BBC has defended its actions, stating that it takes its “duty of care responsibilities very seriously.” However, the broadcaster has been widely condemned for failing to support Abdullah amid the fallout.
Sir Vincent Fean, former British consul-general to Jerusalem, criticized the BBC’s handling of the situation. “They have failed. He is receiving hate mail, and his mental health is suffering,” he said. “He has done nothing to deserve this. Shame on them.”
Labour MP Kim Johnson described the BBC’s decision as “yet another shocking attempt to silence the truth about what is actually happening in Gaza.” British-Israeli historian Avi Shlaim also accused the BBC of caving to pro-Israel pressure, calling its leadership “hopelessly compromised.”
The BBC has also faced scrutiny over payments made to Abdullah’s family. Pro-Israel group UK Lawyers for Israel has reported the broadcaster and the documentary’s producers to counterterrorism police over the payments. Abdullah clarified that he had received $1,000 for personal expenses but was not directly paid for his role in the film.
Despite the backlash, Abdullah remains hopeful that the documentary will be reinstated. The film has received widespread support, with over 1,000 media professionals, including Gary Lineker, Juliet Stevenson, and Miriam Margolyes, signing a letter demanding the BBC restore it.
Artists for Palestine UK accused the BBC of “playing politics with the lives of children traumatized by 17 months of genocidal violence.”
Abdullah expressed gratitude to those who have backed him, saying, “I thank you all from the bottom of my heart, and continue your efforts that hopefully can and will return the movie back up on BBC.”
As he dreams of studying journalism in the UK, Abdullah hopes his voice, and the voices of Gaza’s children, will not be silenced. “I hope that Gaza sees light again, that children of Gaza have a bright future again,” he said.
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