LONDON,October 26,2023 – The BBC has reached a financial settlement with an Israeli family whose home was entered and filmed by a news crew shortly after they survived the Hamas attacks on October 7,2023. The incident, which occurred in the village of Netiv HaAsara, has raised questions about journalistic ethics and the treatment of trauma survivors.
Family’s Ordeal Intensifies After BBC Crew Enters damaged Home
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A family’s struggle to rebuild after surviving a brutal attack was compounded by an unauthorized visit from a BBC news team.
- A BBC News crew, including International Editor Jeremy Bowen, filmed inside the family’s home without permission.
- The family, the Horensteins, survived a grenade attack during the October 7th Hamas assault.
- A settlement of £28,000 was reached between the BBC and the family.
Shiri Horenstein, a member of the family, told Jewish News that gunmen threw a grenade at her husband, Simon, during the Hamas attack on Netiv HaAsara on the morning of October 7, 2023. The couple and their two young children miraculously survived because the door to their home became jammed as the attackers attempted to blast it open with explosives.
A Second Intrusion
“Not only did terrorists break into our home and try to murder us, but than the BBC crew entered again, this time with a camera as a weapon, without permission or consent,” Horenstein stated.”It was another intrusion into our lives. We felt that everything that was still under our control had been taken from us.” The crew filmed personal photographs of the family’s children at a time when many friends and relatives were still uncertain of their fate.
A BBC spokesperson acknowledged the situation, stating that while the corporation generally does not comment on specific legal matters, they were pleased to have reached an agreement in this case. The settlement reached with the family totaled £28,000, according to reports.
Ongoing Conflict
The October 7th attacks triggered the ongoing conflict in gaza. As of today, October 26, 2023, the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza reports that more than 71,260 people have been killed in Israeli attacks as the start of the conflict.
What do you think about the balance between a journalist’s right to report and a family’s right to privacy in a war zone? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
