Israeli Health Official Says BBC Dropped Interview After He Challenged Its Reporting

An Israeli health official has said a BBC interview was called off after he raised concerns about the network's coverage of health-related issues connected to the war in Gaza.

Prof. Mitch Schwaber, head of Israel's National Center for Infection Control at the Ministry of Health, described the incident during an appearance on Kan Moreshet Radio.

A senior BBC correspondent approached Schwaber while preparing a special report on the war's health effects, initially proposing an off-the-record or background discussion. Rather than agree immediately, Schwaber said he asked what safeguards would prevent inaccurate information from appearing in the final report.

Schwaber subsequently sent the correspondent a letter detailing six incidents that concerned him. Four involved what he described as inaccurate reporting on medical or health matters; the other two raised broader questions about the journalist's handling of information.

He stated he would participate only if confident the resulting report would accurately reflect the information he provided. Schwaber explained his concern that corrections issued after publication may not reverse the impact of initial claims, particularly once widely circulated.

The interview did not proceed. The correspondent did not answer his questions and eventually stopped pursuing the interview, Schwaber said, and he has not heard from the reporter since.

Among the cases Schwaber cited was the October 2023 explosion at Al-Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza City. He objected to the BBC's early coverage, arguing it attributed the explosion to Israeli fire and initially reported a large number of deaths before evidence was fully established. Later assessments by multiple sources concluded the explosion was likely caused by a rocket launched from Gaza that failed or broke apart, though questions surrounding the incident and casualty figures remained disputed.

Schwaber said the hospital incident was one of several examples he had raised with the BBC. He argued that reporting on medical conditions and public health during wartime requires particular care because disputed or inaccurate claims can influence public opinion and have broader consequences.