Gary Lineker backs Gaza documentary, slams BBC for ‘capitulating' to pressure

Former footballer and broadcaster Gary Lineker has defended the BBC documentary, Gaza: How to Survive a Warzone, which was pulled from its streaming platform, iPlayer, after an intense campaign by pro-Israel groups and rival British media outlets.

Their criticism centred over revelations that Abdullah’s father, Ayman al-Yazuri, is a deputy minister of agriculture in Gaza’s government, which is administered by Hamas.

Abdullah later responded to the controversy, saying: “I hold the BBC responsible for my fate.”

Lineker described the film as a vital piece of journalism. He was one of over 500 media professionals who signed an open letter criticising the BBC’s decision to remove it.

The BBC has come under renewed scrutiny after it pulled the documentary.

Appearing on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Lineker said he would “100 percent” support reinstating the documentary.

“I think you let people make their own minds up. We’re adults. We’re allowed to see things like that. It’s incredibly moving,” he told presenter Amol Rajan.

He accused the broadcaster of yielding to external pressure: “I think [the BBC] just capitulated to lobbying that they get a lot.”

When pressed the importance of impartiality in conflict coverage, Lineker pointed at the double standards in how the BBC has handled the war in Ukraine.

Rajan referenced Israel’s official stance that its military offensive on Gaza - which has killed more than 51,000 Palestinians - was a response to the 7 October attacks.

“But that’s not the full context, is it?” Lineker countered. “The full context started way before October 7th, doesn’t it?”