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Panorama ‘Death on the Med’ – Contact the BBC

Last night, the BBC broadcast a Panorama programme entitled ‘Death on the Med’. It claimed to reveal ‘what really happened’ when Israeli commandos boarded the Mavi Marmara on 31 May 2010. Watch the programme here. The programme was extremely biased, portraying the activists on board as violent terrorists who set out to kill Israeli soldiers.…

Liam
2–3 minutes

800px-Mavi_Marmara_sideLast night, the BBC broadcast a Panorama programme entitled ‘Death on the Med’.

It claimed to reveal ‘what really happened’ when Israeli commandos boarded the Mavi Marmara on 31 May 2010.

Watch the programme here.

The programme was extremely biased, portraying the activists on board as violent terrorists who set out to kill Israeli soldiers.

Please write to the BBC asking the following questions:

  • Why was Israel’s ‘right’ to board the ship presumed throughout the programme?
  • Why did the programme completely fail to mention that Israel’s siege of Gaza has been declared illegal by the UN? The assumption was made that Israel has the right to blockade Gaza, while the motives of those attempting to break an illegal blockade were questioned.
  • Why did Jane Corbin not mention the bombs, rockets and white phosphorus dropped on Gaza by Israel during Operation Cast Lead over a three week period in 2008/9, killing 1,400 people? She did, however, mention the ‘thousands of rockets’ fired from Gaza into Israel, but did not say over what time period.
  • Why was the Israeli evidence of how and when they killed the activists unquestioned? Activists who were on the top deck of the ship say the first person was killed – shot from a helicopter – before any Israeli had even landed on the deck. However, none of these activists were interviewed.
  • Activists shot footage of the Israeli attack, but their cameras, laptops and other recording equipment was taken by the Israelis and has not been returned. Why was this point not raised during the programme, or put to the Israeli spokespeople?
  • Why were the autopsy reports – which reveal that each victim was shot several times at close range, in a way that can’t constitute self-defence – not used, or even mentioned?
  • Why was there no footage of the Israeli assaults on the activists – which led to nine deaths?
  • Jane Corbin never questions the use of the word ‘terrorists’ to describe the activists, or their alleged willingness to attack the commandoes. Why does she then fail to examine why there were no fatalities or serious injuries among the Israeli commandoes, when these ‘terrorists’ were so willing to attack?
  • Why were there no interviews with any of the British activists on board the ship, or with any of the journalists who were on board?
  • Why was it not pointed out that the IDF has admitted doctoring the audio footage used in the programme, that the BBC claims was broadcast from the captain’s deck?
  • You can find more points to make on the PSC website at www.palestinecampaign.org and http://t.co/wxcKyPH

Where to send your complaint:

Online: BBC complaints link: Follow the link and fill out the online form: https://www.bbc.co.uk/complaints/forms/

Ring: BBC complaint line number: 03700 100 212

Email: panorama.reply@bbc.co.uk

Write: BBC Panorama, MC4A1, Media Centre, Media Village, 201 Wood Lane, London, W12 7TQ.

10 responses to “Panorama ‘Death on the Med’ – Contact the BBC”

  1. HarpyMarx Avatar
    HarpyMarx

    It was utterly and appallingly biased propaganda, mouthpiece for the Israeli State and was half expecting Mark Regev to turn up. It was interesting too the programme emphasised the behaviour of the activists on the flotilla shown brandishing metal bars etc. yet ignored the armed IDF thugs who stormed the ship in international waters (that wasn’t mentioned either). When the activists on the flotilla are faced with an armed hostile force, what are they expected to do…self defence no offence!

    No political context given just a biased account.

    Good point too Liam, why weren’t journalists on board interviewed….

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  2. Doug Avatar
    Doug

    The BBC is just the propaganda arm for the British ruling class and their chums. This is the latest crass example.

    How can anyone take seriously their smug self satisfied claims to reliable and professional coverage of any important aspects of the news. As for the coverage of Afghanistan and Iraq…

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  3. Baz Avatar
    Baz

    1.Why was Israel’s ‘right’ to board the ship presumed throughout the programme

    A. It wasn’t. It was pointed out during the programme, that the ship was boarded in international waters.

    2. Why did the programme completely fail to mention that Israel’s siege of Gaza has been declared illegal by the UN? The assumption was made that Israel has the right to blockade Gaza, while the motives of those attempting to break an illegal blockade were questioned.

    A. There was no such assumption. It was right to question the motives given that there motive wasn’t primarily to bring aid but to , as you say, ‘break an illegal blockade’, therefore making confrontation inevitable.

    3. Why did Jane Corbin not mention the bombs, rockets and white phosphorus dropped on Gaza by Israel during Operation Cast Lead over a three week period in 2008/9, killing 1,400 people? She did, however, mention the ‘thousands of rockets’ fired from Gaza into Israel, but did not say over what time period.

    A. The programme was 30 minutes long, it couldn’t give the entire history of the conflcit in that time. The rockets fired from Gaza were mentioned in the context of the restrictions on the import of concrete.

    4. Why was the Israeli evidence of how and when they killed the activists unquestioned? Activists who were on the top deck of the ship say the first person was killed – shot from a helicopter – before any Israeli had even landed on the deck. However, none of these activists were interviewed.

    A. These questions were addressed. Accounts on who fired first are disputed. The Israeli army disputed that it was possible that soldiers could fire while abseiling onto the ship. Activists were interviewd. If that is your criticism, I suggest you watch the programme again.

    5. Activists shot footage of the Israeli attack, but their cameras, laptops and other recording equipment was taken by the Israelis and has not been returned. Why was this point not raised during the programme, or put to the Israeli spokespeople?

    A. The programme discussed the various sources of footage, including that some had been seized by the Israelis and some that hadnt.

    6. Why were the autopsy reports – which reveal that each victim was shot several times at close range, in a way that can’t constitute self-defence – not used, or even mentioned

    A. I didnt hear mention of the autopsy reports, I don’t know the answer to this one. It wouldnt be that surprising that people were shot at close range given that it was a confined space and some were attacking the soldiers.

    7. Why was there no footage of the Israeli assaults on the activists – which led to nine deaths?

    A. Because Panorama doesnt have such footage?

    8. Jane Corbin never questions the use of the word ‘terrorists’ to describe the activists, or their alleged willingness to attack the commandoes. Why does she then fail to examine why there were no fatalities or serious injuries among the Israeli commandoes, when these ‘terrorists’ were so willing to attack?

    A. The use of the words ‘terrorists’ was by the Israeli troops. A large part of the programme was about the motives of the IHH staff. Their intentions were hardly those of ‘peace activists’ though. There were serious injuries among the soldiers. Viewers saw ow one was stabbed and beaten to death. 2 of them were fortunate to escape with their lives. But guns tend to beat knives, sticks and iron bars.

    9. Why were there no interviews with any of the British activists on board the ship, or with any of the journalists who were on board?

    A. I would have liked to have seen an interview with a Briton on board. There were however, interviews with activits on board, including the rep from IHH, who was organsising the media campaign.

    10. Why was it not pointed out that the IDF has admitted doctoring the audio footage used in the programme, that the BBC claims was broadcast from the captain’s deck?

    A. The page you link to says that it was edited, quite understandibly to remove long periods of silence etc. They have both versions available on that site. The programme made clear that there was controversey over the source of the transmissions.

    I understand however that supporting one cause over the other makes it difficult to accept the outcome of the programme.

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  4. Baz Avatar
    Baz

    ‘Viewers saw ow one was stabbed and beaten to death’

    I didn’t intend to state that an Israeli soldier was beated to death, clearly there weren’t any Israel fatalities. ‘nearly beated to death’ was probably what I meant. Throwing people over the sides of boats can often be fatal though.

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  5. Panorama’s “Death on the Med” …neither investigative nor impartial « Harpymarx Avatar
    Panorama’s “Death on the Med” …neither investigative nor impartial « Harpymarx

    […] Liam has written an excellent post about the programme. And I am certainly in the process of writing my complaint to the BBC. Also Pulse has posted an article by Ken O’Keefe who was interviewed by the Panorama programme. I recommend that you read it. […]

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  6. Liam Avatar
    Liam

    It’s not my work Harpy. The PSC produced it.

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  7. harpymarx Avatar
    harpymarx

    Well, hey, points still well made 🙂

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  8. Jim Avatar
    Jim

    The flotilla announced it was turning away from land and heading to sea; 15 minutes or so later the attack began.

    The Israeli’s continued firing after the white flag was raised on the Mari Mavara. I was watching the live webstream as it happened.

    Why no examination of what direction the flotilla was heading when the attack began?

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  9. Jonathan Avatar
    Jonathan

    I found the report extremely accurate, not giving in to terrorist bullying, for a change.
    Those brave soldiers enters those ships knowing that there would be ressistance. Which any idiot can understand that their entering in the early morning hours was to SAVE lives, not kill. All this, despite the fact that the overall majority of those killed have been exposed ling ago as ” shahidists” desperate to give their lives in the name if their twisted view of Islam ( these are by dedinition – terrorists- period)
    Everyone was ” on board ” to manipulate the I’m ident to further their own political ambitions, including MR. ERDOGAN ( who now hopes to make Turkey a major player in the world of Islam , at Israel’s expense.
    There was no mission of ” peace” on this vessel, only naive passengers easily duped by terrorist doctrine, and Turkish Shahidim..
    Supplying Gaza with humanitarian aid was the cynical “edge” the used, to manipulate world opinion.

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  10. Jim R Avatar
    Jim R

    As a keen photograher,am I the only person to have noted the high quality of the BBC footage, very well lit ,colour balanced,composed,cameras perfectly positioned,, depicting IHH people with angle grinders etc making weapons from the ships deck railing,…compared to that of the grainy and high contrast video shot later at 4.30 am when the assualt on the ship was happening? Could I be forgiven for wondering if this previously unseen footage was created when the ship was securely docked in Israel. Perhaps the writer, director,featured persons or camera crew may be available to comment?

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