Left to right) Ben De Pear, Ramita Navai, Karim Shah, Melanie Quigley and Menna Hijazi, winners of the Current Affairs Award for Gaza: Doctors Under Attack, in the winners’ room at the BAFTA TV Awards 2026, at the Royal Festival Hall in London.
The documentary Gaza: Doctors Under Attack has won a major Bafta Television Award for current affairs, despite previously being dropped by the BBC, sparking renewed debate over media impartiality and coverage of the Gaza conflict.
The film, which highlights testimonies from Palestinian medical workers during Israel’s war on Gaza, was originally commissioned by the BBC but later shelved over concerns about perceived bias. It was eventually broadcast by Channel 4.
At the awards ceremony in London, producer Ben de Pear criticised the BBC’s decision, questioning why the broadcaster would screen the ceremony while rejecting the film itself.
Journalist Ramita Navai also used her acceptance speech to defend the documentary, saying it exposed attacks on Gaza’s healthcare system and honouring Palestinian medical staff affected by the conflict.
The filmmakers claimed the documentary documented the deaths of more than 1,700 health workers and the detention of hundreds more, allegations linked to Israel’s ongoing military campaign in Gaza.
The BBC had argued that the film risked creating a perception of bias and did not meet its strict editorial standards for impartiality. It later reiterated that neutrality remains a core principle of its news operations.
Following its rejection, the documentary was picked up and aired by Channel 4 in July, where it drew significant public attention.
Backstage at the Bafta ceremony, de Pear praised journalists who contributed footage from Gaza, describing the risks faced by reporters working in the conflict zone and saying the production team regularly feared for their safety.
The award has reignited discussion over how international broadcasters cover the Gaza war, the challenges of reporting from active conflict zones, and the balance between editorial standards and frontline testimony.
