BBC UNDER FIRE AFTER “MALNUTRITION DEATH” CLAIM – The broadcaster has yet again been accused of persistent bias against Israel
The BBC has landed itself in hot water yet again — this time accused of peddling misinformation in its reporting of the Israel-Gaza war.
Over the weekend, the broadcaster claimed that a 20-year-old Gazan woman, identified as Marah Abu Zuhri, had died of malnutrition after being evacuated to Italy for treatment. The report described her as arriving in a “severely emaciated” state. But almost immediately, Israel’s Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories, better known as COGAT — the unit responsible for overseeing aid — hit back, insisting that the young woman had suffered from leukaemia, not starvation.
Sir Michael Ellis, the former attorney-general, accused the broadcaster of fuelling anti-Semitism and labelled its reporting “an international embarrassment.” He argued that the BBC’s “persistent bias against Israel” has already had real-world consequences, linking coverage like this to the record levels of anti-Semitic incidents now being reported across Britain.
Faced with mounting pressure, the BBC quietly deleted its original post claiming Ms. Zuhri had died “of malnutrition.” Hours later, the story was reshared with a new caption, stating only: “This post replaces an earlier version, following an update to the story.”
It’s not the first time the broadcaster has been accused of bias over its Middle East reporting. Earlier this year, it faced backlash for airing a documentary about the war narrated by the son of a Hamas minister, a connection it failed to disclose to viewers.
