Summary of complaint
We received complaints from people who felt our coverage of the deal which saw Israeli hostages freed in return for Palestinian prisoners focused too much on the Israeli hostages, and was biased against the Palestinians prisoners.
Our response
The deal between Israel and Hamas which led to a seven-day ceasefire and the exchange of Israeli hostages in return for Palestinian prisoners was an important point in the war. We followed developments closely, offering analysis of the international diplomatic activity involved and examining what this meant in terms of the conflict. We heard testimonies from both freed Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners, and reflected the impact this had on their families and respective communities.
The capturing of hostages was a significant aspect of Hamas’ unprecedented attack on Israel on October 7th. We have reported on the plight of the hostages since the war began, telling their personal stories, detailing the campaigning of their families to secure their release, and the political implications of the hostage negotiations.
We have made clear that the released Palestinian prisoners were women, children and teenagers, who had been imprisoned when they were under 18. We explained the nature of the crimes they were accused of having committed, the manner in which they were captured and the judicial process that they underwent. We also heard allegations about their treatment in Israeli jails.
Our reporting of the Israel- Gaza war has reflected the suffering and trauma experienced by both Israelis and Palestinians. This is a complex and polarising story to cover. We will continue accurately and with due impartiality to explain our audience the context of this situations as it develops.Â