Previously we discussed some aspects of the BBC News website’s coverage of the US administration’s announcement of the launch of phase two of the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip on January 14th.
In the nine days between January 14th and January 22nd inclusive, the BBC News website published eight articles relating to that story, including three on the same topic on the same day.
“US launches phase two of Gaza peace plan with new technocratic government” David Gritten and Jon Donnison, 14/1/26
“Pitfalls loom as Trump’s Gaza peace plan enters second phase” Jon Donnison, 15/1/26
“Who is on Trump’s ‘Board of Peace’ overseeing Gaza’s reconstruction?” Claire Keenan, 17/1/26
“Big names on Trump’s peace panel face huge challenges in Gaza” John Sudworth, 17/1/26
“Blair and Rubio among names on senior executive of Gaza ‘Board of Peace’” Maia Davies, 17/1/26
“Israel pushes back on Trump’s picks for executives on Gaza ‘Board of Peace’” Rachel Muller-Heyndyk, 18/1/26
“Seven more countries agree to join Trump’s Board of Peace” David Gritten and Rachel Hagan, 21/1/26
“US unveils plans for ‘New Gaza’ with skyscrapers” David Gritten, 22/1/26
Themes appearing in those reports include the following: [emphasis added]
Two of the eight reports (25%) advance the notion of ‘colonialism’: a narrative that has also been promoted by a Hamas official.
“Under Trump’s peace plan, Gaza will supposedly have three levels of governance.
As the lowest level, the strip will be run by a new government of technocrats made up of figures from civil society within Gaza. […]
Above that will be an Executive Committee based outside Gaza to oversee the new government’s work. […]
Finally, above the Executive Committee will be the Board of Peace, with Trump as its chairman. […]
Many Palestinians say having foreigners in effect running Gaza smacks of colonialism.” [Jon Donnison, 15/1/26]
“The White House has announced the first members of its Gaza “Board of Peace”, and the list of names will do little to dispel the criticism from some quarters that the US president’s plan resembles, at its heart, a colonial solution imposed over the heads of the Palestinians.” [John Sudworth, 17/1/26]
One of the BBC’s reports promotes the notion of ‘military occupation’ of the Gaza Strip, despite Israel having fully withdrawn from the territory over two decades ago.
“But Hamas has so far adamantly refused to give up its weapons, which it sees as tools of resistance to Israel’s decades-long military occupation.”[Jon Donnison, 15/1/26]
Half of the BBC’s reports mention the clause in phase one of the ceasefire agreement pertaining to the handover of the 20 living and 28 deceased hostages held by Hamas and other terrorist organisations. They however fail to clarify that the document stated that all hostages would be returned to Israel within 72 hours of the IDF’s withdrawal from agreed areas and that Hamas did not comply with that condition.
“Under phase one, Hamas and Israel agreed a ceasefire in October, as well as a hostage-prisoner exchange, a partial Israeli withdrawal, and an aid surge. […]
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said he had spoken on Wednesday evening with the parents of Ran Gvili, the last dead hostage in Gaza. […]
The Israeli government had accused Hamas of deliberately delaying the recovery of the 24-year-old police officer’s remains and said it will not reopen the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt – one of its obligations under phase one – until they are handed over.” [David Gritten & Jon Donnison, 14/1/26]
“Under phase one, Hamas and Israel agreed a ceasefire in October, as well as a hostage-prisoner exchange, a partial Israeli withdrawal, and an aid surge.
Earlier this week Witkoff said phase two would see the reconstruction and full demilitarisation of Gaza, including the disarmament of Hamas and other Palestinian groups.
“The US expects Hamas to comply fully with its obligations,” he warned, noting these include the return of the body of the last dead Israeli hostage. “Failure to do so will bring serious consequences.”” [Maia Davies, 17/1/26]
“Under phase one of the peace plan, Hamas and Israel agreed to the ceasefire, an exchange of living and dead Israeli hostages in Gaza for Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails, a partial Israeli withdrawal, and a surge in deliveries of humanitarian aid.
Israel has said it can only move into the second phase after Hamas hands over the body of the last dead hostage.” [David Gritten & Rachel Hagan, 21/1/26]
“Under phase one, Hamas and Israel agreed to the ceasefire, an exchange of all living and dead Israeli hostages in Gaza for Palestinians detained in Israeli jails, a partial Israeli withdrawal, and a surge in deliveries of humanitarian aid.” [David Gritten, 22/1/26]
Half of the BBC’s reports promote a narrative of equivalence concerning “ceasefire violations” by “both sides” but fail to inform BBC audiences that up to January 22nd, at least 90 violations by Palestinian terrorists had been recorded.
“The ceasefire is also fragile at best, with both sides accusing each other of repeated violations.
Almost 450 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli strikes since it came into force, according to Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry, while the Israeli military says three of its soldiers have been killed in attacks by Palestinian groups during the same period.” [David Gritten & Jon Donnison, 14/1/26]
“The ceasefire, which has been in place since October last year, is already fragile at best.
Both sides have accused each other of repeated violations.
More than 450 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli strikes since it came into force, according to the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza.
The Israeli military says three of its soldiers have been killed in attacks by Palestinian armed groups during the same period.” [Jon Donnison, 15/1/26]
“However the ceasefire is fragile, with both sides accusing each other of repeated violations.
Almost 450 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli strikes since it came into force, according to Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry, while the Israeli military says three of its soldiers have been killed in attacks by Palestinian groups during the same period.” [Maia Davies, 17/1/26]
“The ceasefire is also fragile. More than 460 Palestinians killed in Israeli strikes since it came into force, according to Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry, while the Israeli military says three of its soldiers have been killed in Palestinian attacks during the same period.” [David Gritten & Rachel Hagan, 21/1/26]
Most of the reports promote a monotone portrayal of “humanitarian conditions” but fail to clarify that 4,200 trucks of aid enter the Gaza Strip every week.
“And humanitarian conditions in the territory remain dire, according to the UN, which has stressed the need for the unrestricted flow of critical supplies.” [David Gritten & Jon Donnison, 14/1/26]
“And all the while, the humanitarian situation in Gaza remains utterly bleak.
Since the ceasefire was announced last October, more aid has been allowed into the strip, but aid agencies say it is still nowhere near enough.” [Jon Donnison, 15/1/26]
“The UN estimates around 80% of buildings in Gaza have been destroyed or damaged and families who have survived the war are now struggling with the winter weather, and a lack of food and shelter.
While aid groups say there has been some improvements, they accuse Israel of imposing continuing restrictions upon their work.
Israel says that it is facilitating humanitarian assistance, and has blamed the UN for failing to distribute supplies already in Gaza. It argues any restrictions are designed to stop Hamas infiltrating and exploiting relief efforts.” [John Sudworth, 17/1/26]
“Humanitarian conditions in the territory remain dire, according to the UN, which has stressed the need for the unrestricted flow of critical supplies.” [Maia Davies, 17/1/26]
“The UN estimates around 80% of buildings in Gaza have been destroyed or damaged and families who have survived the war are now struggling with the winter weather, and a lack of food and shelter.
Olga Cherevko from the UN aid coordination office said that the delivery of tonnes of aid and the fixing of roads in the months since a ceasefire came into effect were a “band aid” rather than a solution.
Bitter winter weather has led to further complications, destroying buildings and making it difficult to access healthcare.
Israel says that it is facilitating humanitarian assistance, and has blamed the UN for failing to distribute supplies already in Gaza. It argues any restrictions are designed to stop Hamas infiltrating and exploiting relief efforts.” [Rachel Muller-Heyndyk, 18/1/26]
“Humanitarian conditions also still dire, with almost 1 million people lacking adequate shelter and 1.6 million facing high levels of acute food insecurity, according to the UN.” [David Gritten, 22/1/26]
As we see, although there was no shortage of often repetitious coverage of announcements concerning Stage 2 of the ceasefire and the various associated committees on the BBC News website, clear explanations were not provided, particularly in relation to the technocratic administration body NCAG. Much of the BBC’s reporting during that nine-day period repromoted existing narratives and often unrealistic portrayals of Stage 1 of the ceasefire. Considerably less effort was made to provide audiences with information concerning the obstacles facing the various levels of the structure headed by the ‘Board of Peace’ at Stage 2 – in particular the central issue of disarmament of terrorist groups.
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The government of Israel needs to gets its proverbial digit out and make all BBC staff in Israel persona non grata