A young boy from Gaza, whose voice narrated a recently controversial BBC documentary, has now publicly stated that he holds the broadcaster responsible if anything happens to him.
Abdullah al-Yazouri, aged 14, is the son of Ayman al-Yazouri, a senior Hamas official.
His involvement in the documentary Gaza: How to Survive a Warzone sparked massive backlash when it was revealed that he was the son of a Hamas member, leading the BBC to pull the documentary from iPlayer.
The Documentary Controversy
The documentary, which Abdullah narrated, was initially praised for providing insight into life in Gaza, yet it became embroiled in controversy when it was discovered that Abdullah’s father, Ayman al-Yazouri, holds a senior role in the Hamas-run government in Gaza.
Viewers were not made aware of this connection, nor was it disclosed that money was paid into a bank account belonging to Abdullah’s sister during the documentary’s production.
The BBC later acknowledged the “serious flaws” in the production, leading to the documentary’s removal.
Abdullah Speaks Out
In his first interview since the incident, Abdullah made it clear he never consented to the risks involved in participating in the documentary.
“Anything that happens to me, the BBC is responsible for it,” he said, pointing out that the corporation had failed to protect him adequately.
He also described the intense cyberbullying and harassment his family faced after the documentary aired, emphasizing the personal toll the situation has taken.
A Disappointing Outcome
Abdullah expressed his disappointment at the BBC’s decision to remove the documentary.
“I’ve been working on this for nine months for it to just get wiped,” he shared, adding that he first heard about the decision to pull the film through the news, and he had not received any formal apology from the BBC.
Despite the removal, Abdullah remains hopeful, thanking his supporters in the UK and urging them to continue their efforts to reinstate the documentary.
BBC and Hoyo Films Under Scrutiny
As the BBC continues to face criticism, they have announced an audit of the money used during the production of the documentary.
The £790 payment made to Abdullah’s family, which is equivalent to a month’s salary in Gaza, has been a point of contention, with the BBC insisting they were unaware of Abdullah’s father’s Hamas affiliation until after the documentary aired.
Despite these revelations, the BBC has stated that Hoyo Films, the independent production company, assured them that no payments were made to Hamas or its affiliates, and that they are cooperating fully with the BBC to rectify the situation.
Next Steps and Police Involvement
The Metropolitan Police have confirmed that they are aware of the situation and are currently reviewing reports related to the documentary.
Officers from the Counter-Terrorism Command are assessing whether further police action is necessary, with many questions still surrounding the production process and the potential connections to Hamas.
The controversy surrounding the documentary continues to evolve, as both the BBC and Hoyo Films try to manage the fallout while Abdullah and his family remain at the center of the dispute.