Particle.news
Download on the App Store

BBC Pays NIS 120,000 to Israeli Family Over Unauthorized Filming After Oct. 7

The corporation describes the entry as a good‑faith mistake, with a Hebrew apology sent by its Middle East bureau chief.

Overview

  • A BBC team that included senior correspondent Jeremy Bowen entered the Horenstein home in Netiv HaAsara days after the Hamas attack without the family’s consent.
  • Footage from inside the destroyed house showed personal photographs at a time when friends and relatives were still unsure the family had survived.
  • Middle East bureau chief Joaquin Floto apologized in Hebrew, saying the crew believed consent had been given and stressing there was no intent to cause harm.
  • The settlement followed legal proceedings in Israel and totals NIS 120,000, or about £28,000, with the BBC saying it was pleased to reach an agreement.
  • Tzeela Horenstein called the filming a second intrusion that compounded trauma, and the case has been cited in ongoing criticism of the BBC’s Gaza war coverage, including prior Ofcom findings.