TV channels air Gaza aid appeal

Britain�۪s commercial terrestrial channels tonight went ahead and aired a humanitarian aid appeal for Gaza.

he appeal which featured a professional voiceover on top of images of the recent conflict in Gaza, aired first on ITV1 at 6.25pm, just before the channel’s main evening news. It was followed by Channel Five at 7.25pm and Channel 4 at 7.50pm.

There has been much controversy surrounding the BBC’s decision not to air the two-minute appeal by the Disasters Emergency Committee, an umbrella group of humanitarian charities including Oxfam, Save the Children and the Red Cross.
Earlier today Sky News also joined the BBC by announcing that it was also refusing to broadcast the appeal.

Several high profile religious leaders, including the Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, have also opposed the decision.

The BBC confirmed it had received 15,500 complaints over its decision, while its own staff and broadcasting unions joined in the criticism.

Many civilians were killed in the bombardment, and hundreds of homes and businesses were destroyed.

Israel launched the three-week offensive in order to halt Hamas rocket fire into southern Israel.