Social Media Lash Out at BBC For Gaza Film
CrossFireArabia- March 7, 2025
The BBC is facing growing criticism for “failing in its duty of care” to the 13-year-old Palestinian narrator of a Gaza documentary as he has reportedly experienced intense online abuse following the BBC’s decision to withdraw the film.
The Gaza: How to Survive a War Zone documentary sheds light on the experiences of children in Gaza amid Israel’s genocide war through the eyes of narrator Abdullah al-Yazuri. However, it was removed from the BBC iPlayer, after a pro-Israel campaign centered on al-Yazuri’s relationship with a minister in Gaza’s Hamas-run government.
Abdullah’s father Ayman al-Yazuri has been labeled by media as a “Hamas chief” while he is a technocrat with a scientific rather than political background, who has previously worked for the UAE’s education ministry and studied at British universities.
Fears for Safety
Speaking exclusively to Middle East Eye (MEE) last week, the child explained that he and his family have been the targets of online abuse, adding that the affair has caused him serious “mental pressure” and made him fear for his safety.
“I did not agree to the risk of me being targeted in any way before the documentary was broadcast on the BBC. So [if] anything happens to me, the BBC is responsible for it,” he said.
The boy also said the BBC had not reached out to him to apologize.
“Hamas Royalty”
His father has also denied claims that he and his son are “Hamas royalty” in an interview this week with MEE.
His comments came after pro-Israel activist David Collier alleged that Abdullah was the son of a deputy minister in Gaza’s government and was related to a co-founder of Hamas, Ibrahim al-Yazuri, who died in 2021.
The father is a civil servant in Gaza’s government – which is administered by Hamas.
Many Palestinians in Gaza have family or other connections to Hamas, which runs the government. This means that anyone working in an official capacity must also work with Hamas.
Collier, whose revelations sparked a national scandal, described Abdullah as the “child of Hamas royalty”, a claim later repeated by mainstream British newspapers.
The father said that his full name was Ayman Hasan Abdullah al-Yazuri, whereas the Hamas founder’s full name was Ibrahim Fares Ahmed al-Yazuri. He added that his father was named Hasan and died in 1975.
“Our family is not as some claim,” he told MEE, insisting he was not “Hamas royalty”.
“There are many individuals within our family who are affiliated with Fatah and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), including some in leadership positions within these movements.”
Sparking Debate
The child’s interview with MEE about his experiences has sparked a debate on social media on media ethics and the BBC’s responsibility to protect the children it works with.
“I posted about this concern shortly after the BBC pulled this documentary,” said Chris Doyle, chair of the Council for Arab-British Understanding, responding to Abdullah’s video.
Several social media users have accused the BBC of exposing the child’s life to danger, and say the broadcaster has a responsibility to ensure his safety.
They have also highlighted Section 9 of the BBC’s editorial guidelines concerning children and young people as contributors, which states that the BBC “must take due care over the physical and emotional welfare and the dignity of under-18s who take part or are otherwise involved in our editorial content, irrespective of any consent given by them or by a parent, guardian or other person acting in loco parentis. Their welfare must take priority over any editorial requirement”.
There are also guidelines in the section that dictate that if a person under 18 is suspected to be at risk in the course of their work, “the situation must be referred promptly to the divisional Working with Children Adviser or, for independent production companies, to the commissioning editor”.
Section 9 also states that “procedures, risk assessments, and contingencies for the impact of participating on an individual’s emotional and mental well-being and welfare may be appropriate in some circumstances”.
Others also argued that the removal appeared to be another example of media bias against Palestinians according to the Quds News Network.
Al Jazeera English Wins Top Award in London…
- CrossFireArabia
- March 6, 2025
This is what Sami Al Arian, a Palestinian professor and activist wrote on his X account:
Very proud of my daughter Laila. She is the Executive Producer of Al Jazeera English Flagship ‘Fault Lines.’ Last night, she and her team won the 2025 best documentary award from the ‘Royal Television Society’ in London. The documentary was on the Gaza genocide and titled ‘The Night Won’t End.’
Congratulations to Laila and her team! May the suffering of Gaza and its valiant people end soon. Here is the link to this very powerful documentary.
Masafer Yatta – A Travesty of Justice
- CrossFireArabia
- March 4, 2025
Ofer Cassif writes
Hours after No Other Land won the academy awards, Israel occupation forces handed a demolition order for a school in Masafer Yatta.
Even Shakespeare couldn’t have written such a travesty of justice. Palestinians in Masafer Yatta, and elsewhere, deserve liberation, they deserve to live free from occupation in their own sovereign state.
War Ravages Through The Eyes of a Gazan Photographer
- CrossFireArabia
- March 1, 2025
By Maria Weldali
Through the lens of a dedicated Gazan photojournalist, each frame tells a story—stories of resilience, struggle, and hope that are often hidden behind the walls of Gaza. These images, steeped in the silent testimony of daily life amidst conflict, capture moments that the world has yet to fully recognise.
“In this series, every photograph is not just a visual record; it’s a portal into the untold experiences of life under siege. It invites us to explore the profound realities woven into the fabric of an ongoing struggle,” said Gazan photojournalist Mustafa Hassona in an interview with The Jordan Times during the Xposrue exhibition in Sharjah.
Featured in both local and international media, Hassona’s photography offers a vital chronicle of the Gazan community’s enduring spirit. His work shines a light on stories of loss, perseverance, and the relentless pursuit of a better future.
Hassona’s achievements include being named The Guardian’s Best Photographer in 2015 and 2018, as well as winning the POYi 73 prize.
Endurance of a Child
Discussing his photos, Hassona revealed the subtle emotions captured in the faces of everyday Gazans. One of his most iconic images depicts a young child, clutching a plastic chair amidst the wreckage of war—his only shield against the brutality that surrounds him.
“When missiles tore through homes and lives, this flimsy piece of furniture became the child’s last line of defence in a world that had already abandoned him,” Hassona recalled, his voice filled with both sorrow and admiration for the child’s enduring strength.
Amidst the Rubble: The Indomitable Spirit of Gaza’s Female Doctor
One poignant story Hassona captured revolves around a Palestinian doctor who, after spending much of her life in Belgium, returned to Gaza following her daughter’s marriage in the enclave. Liquidating all her assets abroad, she purchased an apartment in the Al Zahra Building Complex, a sprawling development of 70 high-rise buildings. For her, this wasn’t just a property purchase—it was a powerful act of reclaiming her identity.
Amid the ruins of her once-thriving community, she grieved the loss of a vibrant neighbourhood and the warmth of family gatherings, now buried beneath the rubble. “With only a single bag containing her certificates as a tangible link to her past, her story reflects the ongoing struggle of Gazans—a narrative marked by sacrifice, loss, and an unyielding hope to rebuild what has been shattered,” said Hassona.
“Her story is one of unyielding courage and resilience, a testament to the strength of Gaza’s people in the face of insurmountable adversity.”
