More than 400 media workers including 111 BBC Journalists have signed an open letter accusing the broadcaster of acting as “PR for the Israeli government” and called for the removal of board member Sir Robbie Gibb over alleged conflicts of interest, according to the Canary.
The letter, addressed to Director-General Tim Davie and the BBC board, follows a series of editorial controversies and questions the BBC’s impartiality in its coverage of the Israel-Gaza conflict.
The letter highlights incidents such as the BBC’s live broadcast of anti-Israel chants by music duo Bob Vylan at Glastonbury and the broadcaster’s decision to withdraw from airing a documentary on Gaza.
“All too often it has felt that the BBC has been performing PR for the Israeli government and military,” the letter stated. “This should be a cause of great shame and concern for everyone at the BBC.”
Prominent signatories question editorial standards
The letter is signed by high-profile public figures including actress Miriam Margolyes, filmmaker Mike Leigh, actor Charles Dance, and historian William Dalrymple. They argue that the BBC’s coverage of Gaza “falls short” of its own editorial standards and does not accurately reflect conditions on the ground.
“The BBC’s editorial choices appear increasingly disconnected from the facts on the ground.We have been forced to conclude that decisions are made to fit a political agenda,” the letter reads.
A major point of contention is the BBC’s decision to pull Gaza: Doctors Under Attack, a documentary it had originally commissioned but which will now air on Channel 4. The BBC said the move was to avoid creating “a perception of partiality.”
The letter challenges this explanation: “This appears to be a political decision… not reflective of the journalism in the film,” it stated. “This illustrates precisely what many of us have experienced first hand: an organisation that is crippled by fear of being perceived as critical of the Israeli government.”
Much of the letter’s criticism is directed at Sir Robbie Gibb, a former BBC political editor and ex-aide to Prime Minister Theresa May. Gibb was involved in the 2020 acquisition of The Jewish Chronicle and served as a director until August 2024.
The letter calls Gibb’s presence on the BBC board, particularly on its editorial standards committee, “untenable.” It cites The Jewish Chronicle’s history of publishing “anti-Palestinian and often racist content” as evidence of a conflict of interest.
Claims of internal censorship and editorial pressure
The signatories allege a double standard in how the BBC handles internal criticism and journalistic independence. They claim staff have faced accusations of bias for sharing articles critical of Israel on social media, while Gibb continues to hold an influential role despite his “ideological leanings being well known.”
“We can no longer ask licence fee payers to overlook Gibb’s ideological allegiances,” the letter stated.
BBC responds: Defends editorial integrity
In response, a BBC spokesperson said: “Robust discussions amongst our editorial teams about our journalism are an essential part of the editorial process.”
The broadcaster maintained that it is committed to impartial coverage of Gaza, citing recent output including Life and Death in Gaza and Gaza 101.
“We have ongoing discussions about coverage and listen to feedback from staff… These conversations are best had internally,” the spokesperson added.
