Pro-Palestine protesters marched from Writer’s Square to BBC Broadcasting House on Saturday in response to claims the broadcaster delayed a UK-wide humanitarian appeal for Gaza.
The march took place through Belfast’s city centre and was organised by the Belfast branch of the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign (IPSC).
In a post on Facebook, the group claimed: “The BBC blocked a UK wide emergency appeal by the Disaster Emergency Committee, a collective of the largest charities in Britain.”
Last week, The Guardian reported that Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) insiders claimed the BBC was ‘blocking’ a Gaza humanitarian appeal over fears of backlash from those who supported Israel.
The DEC is a group of 15 British aid charities which coordinates UK-wide campaigns.
UK wide appeals are only launched when the group’s three criteria are met - that the disaster must merit swift international assistance; that the agencies must be able to provide effective and swift assistance to justify an appeal; and that there must be evidence or likelihood of public sympathy for an appeal.
The DEC is reported to have said that they are “deeply concerned about the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza” as well as the volatility in the region and issues around aid access which pose “a huge challenge” when reviewing their criteria for an appeal.
“The DEC’s role is to launch a national appeal with our broadcast partners at a time that will raise the most money and deliver swift effective aid to as many people as possible. We are ready to act when the moment is right,” it told the Guardian.
A spokesperson for the BBC told the Guardian: “We are keeping the possibility of a pan-broadcaster appeal under review.”
The broadcaster requires appeals to meet its rules on impartiality.
The BBC did not give a comment on Saturday’s protest as it “don’t comment on protests or security issues”.