TEHRAN – The Iranian embassy in London has condemned the BBC for reportedly blocking the launch of a major national appeal to raise funds for humanitarian assistance for Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.

In a statement posted on its official X account, the embassy referenced a report from The Guardian, which indicated that some individuals believe the BBC is blocking the appeal due to fears of backlash from pro-Zionist supporters. 

The embassy emphasized, “The situation is clear and requires no further explanation; they are unwilling to permit a humanitarian appeal to be broadcast in the media.” 

The appeal was initiated by the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC), an umbrella group of British charities that coordinates and launches collective appeals to raise funds to provide emergency aid and rapid relief to people caught up in disasters and humanitarian crises around the world.

According to The Guardian, the BBC has stated that the appeal did not fulfill all the “necessary criteria” for a national appeal, while other networks have agreed to air the appeal.

The Iranian embassy in London had earlier expressed its concerns regarding the humanitarian crises in Gaza and criticized the Western media's portrayal that favors the Zionist regime. 

As of August 30, 2024, more than 42,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza. reports suggest that over 60% of the enclave’s residents have experienced the loss of family members in the past eleven months. More than half of Gaza’s population is under the age of 18.