Calls to Dismiss BBC Board Member Over Conflict of Interest in Coverage of Israel’s Genocide in Gaza

London (Quds News Network)- Over 400 artists, media figures, and journalists have signed a letter demanding the removal of BBC board member Robbie Gibb. They accuse Gibb of having a conflict of interest that affects the BBC’s coverage of the genocide in Gaza.

Among the signatories are actors Miriam Margolyes, Zawe Ashton, Alexei Sayle, and Juliet Stevenson, along with 111 BBC journalists who signed anonymously out of fear of professional retaliation. The letter expresses alarm over “opaque editorial decisions” and growing censorship around Israel-Palestine reporting.

The protest letter was delivered just before Channel 4 aired the documentary “Gaza: Doctors Under Attack”. The BBC had commissioned the film but later shelved it, claiming it “might create a perception of bias.” Signatories say this decision proves that the BBC no longer reports “without fear or favour” when it comes to Israel.

The letter criticizes the BBC for becoming “paralyzed” by fear of appearing critical of Israel. It highlights Gibb’s ties to The Jewish Chronicle, a zionist outlet, and questions his role in editorial decisions. The Jewish Chronicle was at the center of a scandal after publishing what Israeli military sources admitted were fabricated intelligence reports aimed at swaying public opinion in favor of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Gibb, a former communications chief for Prime Minister Theresa May, was a director at Jewish Chronicle Media until August 2024.

The letter states, “We are concerned that someone with strong ideological ties and past leadership in a politically aligned media outlet influences BBC decisions—particularly the choice not to air a documentary that exposes attacks on Palestinian medical staff.”

Signatories also point to the BBC’s failure to cover key issues like British arms sales to Israel and their legal consequences. These stories, the letter says, were instead broken by competing outlets. Staff have reportedly been accused of bias for posting content critical of Israel on social media, while Gibb continues to hold a powerful role with little transparency.

“For many of us inside the BBC, our journalistic efforts are blocked by decisions made without discussion or explanation,” the letter reads. “Our failures affect our audience. We can no longer ask licence fee payers to ignore this.”

The letter ends by calling Gibb’s position “untenable” and demands that the BBC recommit to its public service values; truth, impartiality, and independence.