Exclusive: Palestinian child in Gaza documentary row holds BBC responsible for fate

Abdullah Yazouri, 13, has witnessed death and destruction that most people can scarcely imagine. He lived through Israel's deadly war on Gaza, which has so far killed at least 48,380 Palestinians. Abdullah dreams of going to the faraway United Kingdom to study journalism, where his father obtained his PhD.

However, in recent weeks, Abdullah has found himself at the center of a national dispute in the UK, stemming from his role as narrator in a BBC documentary about children in Gaza, "Gaza: How to Survive a War Zone." Abdullah revealed to Middle East Eye that he spent hours filming in the besieged enclave during the war, providing a child's perspective on the conflict.

Abdullah stated that he hoped the documentary would "spread the message of the suffering of children in Gaza." However, just four days after the documentary aired on February 17, the BBC removed it from its streaming platform, iPlayer, following strong protests from pro-Israel groups and rival British media outlets. Their criticism mainly focused on the fact that Abdullah's father, Ayman Yazouri, is the Deputy Minister of Agriculture in the Hamas-run government in Gaza.

Yazouri has been widely referred to by commentators and news organizations in the UK as a "Hamas chief," "Hamas official," and "terror chief." But Middle East Eye revealed on February 20 that Yazouri is actually a technocrat with a scientific background rather than a political one, who previously worked for the UAE Ministry of Education and studied at British universities, clarifying his professional background.

Ministers, bureaucrats, and civil servants in Gaza are appointed by Hamas, while in the West Bank, they are appointed by the Palestine Liberation Organization. The removal of the documentary was accompanied by a torrent of online harassment and abuse directed at Abdullah and his family. Abdullah said: "I worked on this documentary for more than nine months, and in the end it was erased and deleted... This made me very sad." He added: "I was very disappointed and sad to see the backlash and harassment against me and my family," expressing his distress over the situation.

Abdullah told Middle East Eye that the affair has caused him severe "mental stress" and made him worry about his safety. Now, he says, he holds the BBC responsible for his fate. Abdullah stated: "I did not agree to be targeted in any way before the BBC broadcast the documentary. So if anything happens to me, the BBC is responsible for it," holding the broadcaster accountable for potential harm.

The BBC's conduct throughout the affair has been criticized by prominent media figures, former diplomats, and politicians. Sir Vincent Fean, who served as the British Consul-General in Jerusalem from 2010 to 2014, said that the BBC and the producers "had a duty to protect the dignity and well-being of an innocent 13-year-old boy." He said: "They failed, he received hate mail, and his mental health is suffering. He should not be treated like this. Shame on them," condemning the BBC's handling of the situation.

BBC Chairman Samir Shah told lawmakers on Tuesday that the disclosures surrounding the documentary were "a mortal blow to the BBC's claim to be impartial and trusted." While the BBC has been accused of broadcasting "Hamas propaganda," there is no evidence to suggest that Hamas influenced the content of the film. Abdullah said that his narration was written by the production company commissioned for the documentary, without any external involvement.

When 13-year-old Abdullah learned that the film had been taken down, he was very upset, but he added that the BBC has not contacted him to apologize. Instead, the organization has been engaging in further debate with pro-Israel advocates over payments made to Abdullah. The pro-Israel group "UK Lawyers for Israel" announced on Monday that it had reported the BBC and the documentary's producers to counter-terrorism police, alleging that they may have committed terrorism offenses, escalating the controversy.

Abdullah clarified: "In the contract that the production company... and my mother signed, there was no payment for me or my family. However, a transfer of $1,000 was received in my sister's account, and this money was for personal consumption, nothing more." Middle East Eye has also contacted Hoyo Films, requesting comment on the details of payments made to Abdullah and the contract he signed, seeking further clarification on the financial aspects.

Labour MP Kim Johnson told Middle East Eye that "Abdullah's narrative provided a vital perspective that should be heard, not censored." She described the decision to take down the documentary as "yet another appalling attempt to suppress the truth about the reality in Gaza." Johnson added that the case "raises serious questions about editorial independence and the pressure to suppress Palestinian voices, at a time when the world needs to witness the reality on the ground," highlighting the broader implications of the controversy.

Avraham Shlaim, an emeritus professor of international relations at Oxford University and a British-Israeli historian, told Middle East Eye that taking down the film "is just the latest example of the public broadcaster routinely succumbing to pressure from the pro-Israel lobby." Shlaim said: "The BBC has excellent reporters on the Israel-Palestine issue, but its bosses are hopelessly compromised by their manifest and persistent bias in favor of Israel. The reason for this bias is not lack of knowledge, but cowardice, fear of offending Israel and its allies in high places in Britain," criticizing the BBC's perceived bias and its potential causes.

Owen Jones, a prominent journalist who published an investigation in December into what he called the BBC's "Gaza civil war," said that these disclosures will "further destroy" confidence in the broadcaster. "The BBC left this young man to be abused by the wolves they threw him to, because of their cowardice, and didn't even contact him, it's disgraceful. This will further destroy confidence in the BBC, which for many has already hit rock bottom," expressing his dismay at the BBC's actions and their potential consequences.

Richard Sanders, a filmmaker and journalist who has produced multiple documentaries about Gaza for Al Jazeera during Israel's recent war on Gaza, noted that "more than 200 journalists have been killed in Gaza by Israelis." He pointed out that the danger is that "the team who made this film are effectively being smeared as Hamas accomplices. At the heart of this story, we have a vulnerable child," emphasizing the risks faced by journalists covering the conflict and the vulnerability of the child involved.

In a message to the BBC, Abdullah said: "I did not agree to be targeted in any way before the BBC broadcast the documentary. So if anything happens to me, the BBC is responsible for it." A BBC spokesperson said: "The BBC takes its duty of care extremely seriously, particularly when working with children, and has established frameworks in place to support these obligations." Chris Doyle, director of the Council for Arab-British Understanding, said that Abdullah's claims highlight the BBC's "treatment of Palestinians as a whole," suggesting a broader pattern of unfair treatment.

"The care of children should be prioritized." Ultimately, Abdullah still hopes that the film will be shown again "and spread around the world." He said that even in the face of abuse, he has been encouraged by the widespread support for the film in the UK. A letter initiated by British Palestinian artists calling for the reinstatement of the documentary has received over 1,000 signatures from media professionals, including well-known figures such as Gary Lineker, Juliet Stevenson, and Miriam Margolyes, demonstrating the breadth of support.

The organization told Middle East Eye that the BBC "has completely failed in its duty of care. It is playing politics with the life of a child who has suffered 17 years of genocidal violence. This, not the spurious allegations made against the documentary, is the real scandal," condemning the BBC's actions and highlighting the child's suffering. Abdullah said that he is grateful to "all the people in the UK who supported me, supported the documentary, and protested for the documentary to return to the BBC. I thank you all from the bottom of my heart, and continue to strive in the hope that it can and will return to the BBC," expressing his gratitude and continued hope.

Abdullah concluded: "I hope that Gaza will see the light again, that the children of Gaza will have a bright future again, and that everyone in this 260 square kilometer place... will see a better future and a better tomorrow. My wish is to study journalism in the UK," reiterating his hopes for the future of Gaza and his personal aspirations.