The BBC is understood to have received more than 1,500 complaints relating to its coverage of the Israel-Hamas conflict with complaints split almost evenly between those claiming its reporting has been biased against Israel and those saying it is biased against Palestinians.
The Guardian understands the complaints on each side are in the region of 800 and are within a handful of each other. The broadcaster said it had given “careful consideration” to all aspects of its coverage of the Israel-Hamas conflict.
The BBC said: “We received complaints from people who feel that our reporting of the conflict has been biased against Israel, and complaints from those who feel it has been biased against the Palestinians.
“We understand that this is an extremely worrying time for people not only in the region, but also in the UK and around the world, and we have reflected this in our coverage.”
It added: “BBC News has provided our global audiences with coverage and first-hand testimony of the atrocities committed by Hamas, and the suffering in Gaza. We have made clear the devastating human cost to civilians living in Israel and Gaza, and the unprecedented nature of what has happened. The huge loss of civilian life on both sides makes this a shocking and difficult story to cover.”
It continued: “We have reported on the atrocities committed by Hamas in their assault on Israel and have heard many accounts from survivors of these attacks and family members of the victims, reflecting the trauma they are suffering.
“On the ground in Gaza our teams have reported on the rising death toll from Israeli airstrikes and the unfolding humanitarian crisis, as rockets destroy buildings, power and water supplies are cut and thousands try to move out of the way of danger.
“We have reflected statements from the UN and NGOs. We have interviewed representatives of the Israeli government, Hamas and UK government ministers and asked whether international law is being adhered to.”
It added that its reporting included opinions from all sides, the region and the wider world.
“Careful consideration has been given to all aspects of our coverage to ensure that we report on developments accurately and with due impartiality in line with the BBC editorial guidelines, which are publicly available.
“The BBC, along with many other UK and global news organisations, does use the word ‘terrorist’, but attributes it. We have made clear to our audiences that Hamas is proscribed as a terrorist organisation by the UK and other governments. The use of attribution is required by our editorial guidelines.”
