Allegations that BBC Arabic amplified Hamas propaganda and downplayed Israeli suffering during the Gaza war have stirred controversy—but whether those claims hold up under scrutiny remains uncertain.

The accusations come from a leaked internal dossier authored by Michael Prescott, a former advisor to the BBC’s Editorial Guidelines and Standards Committee. While the document paints a damning picture of editorial bias, independent media watchdogs have yet to corroborate its most serious claims.

According to Prescott, BBC Arabic “raced to air” unverified allegations against Israel and gave disproportionate weight to Hamas statements, including inflated death tolls and false claims of genocide. The report also accuses the service of underreporting Israeli civilian casualties, reinforcing a narrative that cast Israel as the sole aggressor.