A former senior Panorama producer has publicly criticized the BBC for perceived pro-Palestinian bias in its coverage of the conflict in Gaza. Phil Craig, who spent two decades with the broadcaster before holding senior roles at Discovery Networks International and Australia’s ABC, expressed concerns about a shift in editorial standards amid recent reporting.

Speaking at the Battle of Ideas festival, Craig said his longstanding confidence in the BBC’s fairness and objectivity had diminished as he observed coverage of the Gaza conflict. He attributed this to what he described as “a new, more radical generation” of producers and journalists who, in his view, lacked adequate oversight and adherence to traditional BBC principles of balanced reporting.

Craig highlighted the controversy surrounding the BBC’s initial coverage of the al-Ahli Arab Hospital explosion in Gaza, when a correspondent suggested an Israeli airstrike was responsible. Subsequent statements from Western intelligence agencies indicated the blast likely resulted from a misfired Hamas rocket. He described this as the “most outrageous” example of misjudgment that fueled misinformation and inflamed tensions globally, including incidents of violence against synagogues.

The producer stressed that while news organizations inevitably make errors, those mistakes during this conflict appeared to disproportionately favor one side. He also raised concerns about the possible recruitment of staff with highly partisan views or affiliations, citing what he considered a pattern of groupthink within the corporation’s news division.

Reflecting on his own experience, Craig noted that when his production company collaborated with the BBC in 1998 on the documentary *The Fifty Years War: Israel and the Arabs*, they were held to extremely rigorous standards for fairness and balance. He suggested these editorial safeguards no longer appear as robust in current coverage.

Craig’s career began in 1982 after joining the BBC’s trainee scheme from Cambridge University, where he studied history. He advanced to senior producer roles on flagship programs including *Panorama* and *Public Eye* before moving into independent production. His credits include several acclaimed documentary series produced for the BBC over two decades.

A BBC spokesperson responded by reaffirming the corporation’s commitment to impartial and rigorous journalism. The spokesman emphasized the organization’s role in providing comprehensive coverage with diverse perspectives and stated that the BBC is transparent in acknowledging and correcting any mistakes.

Craig’s remarks come amid broader scrutiny of the broadcaster’s editorial decisions. Earlier controversies included an edited segment of a Donald Trump speech aired by *Panorama* in 2021, which the former U.S. president has contested through defamation proceedings against the BBC.