A Gaza war documentary that BBC refused to air over “impartiality concerns” won a major prize at the BAFTA TV Awards 2026 on Sunday.
The documentary, Gaza: Doctors Under Attack, secured the Current Affairs award during the ceremony in London. Basement Films produced the documentary while journalist Ramita Navai fronted the project. The film examined allegations surrounding attacks on hospitals and medical workers during Israel’s military operation in Gaza.
It included testimonies from Palestinian doctors, healthcare workers and witnesses inside Gaza hospitals. Although the BBC commissioned the documentary, the broadcaster later decided not to air it. Rival broadcaster Channel 4 eventually screened the programme.
The BBC had originally planned to broadcast the film in February last year. However, the broadcaster delayed the project while reviewing another Gaza documentary, Gaza: How to Survive a Warzone.
That programme breached editorial rules after producers failed to disclose that its narrator was the son of a Hamas official.
In June, the BBC officially confirmed it would not broadcast Gaza: Doctors Under Attack.
“We have come to the conclusion that broadcasting this material risked creating a perception of partiality that would not meet the high standards that the public rightly expect of the BBC,” the broadcaster said.
Critics Accused BBC of Suppressing the Documentary
The BBC’s decision triggered criticism from journalists, activists and public figures across the UK media industry. More than 600 media and entertainment figures signed an open letter urging former BBC Director-General Tim Davie to release the documentary. Oscar-winning actress Susan Sarandon also supported the campaign.
“Every day this film is delayed, the BBC fails in its commitment to inform the public, fails in its journalistic responsibility to report the truth, and fails in its duty of care to these brave contributors,” the letter stated.
“No news organisation should quietly decide behind closed doors whose stories are worth telling. This important film should be seen by the public, and its contributors’ bravery honoured.”
The controversy added pressure on the BBC during a period marked by several editorial disputes and public criticism. Davie resigned in November following multiple controversies linked to editorial decisions and political pressure.
BAFTA Victory Sparks Fresh Debate
While accepting the award, Navai criticized the BBC for refusing to broadcast the film.
“We refused to be silenced and censored,” she told the audience.
She also thanked Channel 4 for airing the documentary. Navai added that the programme contained “the findings of our investigation that the BBC paid for but refused to show”.
Executive producer Ben de Pear also criticized the broadcaster during the acceptance speech. He questioned whether the BBC would mention the documentary’s BAFTA victory during its delayed awards coverage.
The dispute surrounding Gaza coverage has intensified scrutiny on major Western broadcasters. Critics continue to debate editorial independence and censorship concerns in wartime reporting.
