The spokesperson said one of the core questions was around “the family connections of the young boy who is the narrator of the film” and added that the production company who made the programme “was asked in writing a number of times by the BBC about any potential connections he and his family might have with Hamas”.
“Although the programme was made by an independent production company, who were commissioned to deliver a fully compliant documentary, the BBC has ultimate editorial responsibility for this programme as broadcast.”.
In a separate statement, the BBC’s board said mistakes made in producing the documentary were “significant and damaging to the BBC”.
“While Hoyo Films have assured us that no payments were made to members of Hamas or its affiliates, either directly, in kind, or as a gift, the BBC is seeking additional assurance around the budget of the programme and will undertake a full audit of expenditure.
“Since transmission, they have acknowledged that they knew that the boy’s father was a deputy agriculture minister in the Hamas government; they have also acknowledged that they never told the BBC this fact,” the spokesperson said.
