In response to a BBC newsreader misquoting a Reuters report on an IDF operation in Gaza, the Board of Deputies released the following statement:
“We are absolutely appalled by BBC News footage1 which appears to show a newsreader misquoting a Reuters report which cited the IDF saying it was taking ‘medical teams and Arabic speakers’ into Al-Shifa hospital to help patients. The BBC newsreader quoted the Reuters report as saying that the IDF was ‘targeting medical teams as well as Arab speakers’”
“At best, this shows a staggering lack of care when reporting on a highly volatile situation, which can have a knock-on effect all over the world, including in Britain, where antisemitic attacks have risen by more than 500% since October 7th. Incidents like this make a mockery of the BBC’s oft-stated dedication to professionalism and impartiality. The Corporation must issue a public apology without delay for this egregious misreporting.”
Following our statement, the BBC apologised on air and released a statement acknowledging the error:
BBC Corporate Affairs Director, Alice Macandrew has written to Board of Deputies President Marie van der Zyl to apologise for its misreporting and informed us that they’ve issued a correction and clarification statement.
