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LEADING British filmmaker Ken Loach slammed the BBC yesterday over its biased coverage of Israel’s invasion of Gaza.
Mr Loach accused Britain’s public broadcaster of “completely omitting the Palestinian perspective” from coverage watched by millions of people and instead presented “Israel as being under threat from the Palestinians.”
He said the BBC “fails to report that Israel holds the civilian population of Gaza under occupation and siege” in its day to day reporting.
Mr Loach is among 45,000 who signed an open letter to BBC bosses calling on them to report the reality of the siege on Gaza.
The criticism will have an extra sting for BBC bosses as Mr Loach began his long film-making career at the corporation.
Responding to the director, a BBC spokeswoman defended its “accurate, fair and balanced” coverage of “fast-moving events.”
She said: “Our role is to explain what is happening and why and we endeavour to reflect a range of voices, amid deeply held views.”
Mr Loach issued the message in support of Palestinian solidarity activists who have been occupying the lawn in front of BBC Bristol for the last week.
Organisers had expected to be evicted but their camp is now in its eighth day and gaining more public support.
Protester Ed Hill told the Star: “Lots of people have been bringing us food.
“One person went to buy a load of pizzas and when the owner heard it was for the occupation, he gave them for free.
“We’re hoping people around the rest of the country will start knocking their tent pegs into BBC grass.”
Welsh activists are set to stage a protest outside BBC Wales headquarters in Cardiff today to protest over its “biased” coverage.
Comedian Mark Thomas has also offered support to the Bristol occupation.
He said: “The BBC reporting of the Israeli military assault on Gaza has failed time and time again to contextualise the violence refusing to explain the occupation of Palestine and the siege of Gaza.
“Ironically the occupation of the BBC in Bristol seems likely to be the only time an occupation is commented on.”
