Thousands slam BBC Gaza 'impartiality' claim

Thousands in London demonstrated today in solidarity with the people of Gaza, reeling from the Israeli attack that killed 1300 people and injured 5000, and against the decision by the BBC to refuse to screen an appeal from the Distaster Emergencies Committee that aims to raise money for Gaza reconstruction. The BBC claimed that broadcasting the appeal would compromise its 'impartiality'.

The demonstration had in any case been slated to start off from BBC headquarters at Broadcasting House in Central London, to highlight the complete lack of impartiality in the BBC's coverage of the conflict. By repeatedly showing interviews with Israeli spokespeople, while showing hardly any with Palestinians or pro-Palestinian campaigners, the BBC skewed its position to a pro-Israeli one.

Newcasters repeated endlessly the Israeli lie that the attack on Gaza was a result of Hamas rockets fired into southern Israel and failed to highlight the prolonged and devastating blockade of Gaza that has made a miserable life desperate. BBC reporters dramatised Hamas rocket attacks, running around southern Israelis towns in flak jacketsm, making it seem like it was a war between military equals bombarding each other, rather than a devastating one-sided attack which mainly - and deliberately - targeted Palestinian civilians.

Moreover the BBC sanitised its footage to censor many of the most shocking images that, although not filmed by the BBC, could easily have been obtained. By censoring these images and simply not reporting claims about some of the worst atrocities committed by Israeli soldiers on the ground, the BBC effectively slanted towards Israel. Some images probably were too terrible to show, but shocking images from previous ewars - like Vietnam - helped people understand the reality.

The BBC decision not to show the aid appeal was put under scrutiny by decision of the other main terrestrial channels in Britain - ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5 - to broadcast the appeal. Sky is still making up its mind. The BBC was also criticised by two government ministers for its decision. Sky and the BBC, unlike the British terrestrial channels, broadcast to Israel. Government health minister Ben Bradshaw said the BBC decision was 'completely feeble' and that 'sometimes the BBC has to stand up to Israel'.

Speakers at the rally included Respect leaders George Galloway MP and Salma Yaqoob, John Rees from the Stop the War Coalition and left Labour figures Tony Benn and Jeremy Corbyn MP. Numerous speakers urged the demonstrators to take up the campaign to boycott Israel.