Controversy Surrounds Guardian’s Deleted Review of Channel 4 Documentary

The Guardian newspaper has recently come under scrutiny following the removal of an article that reviewed “One Day in October,” a Channel 4 documentary. The documentary dealt with the aftermath of the October 7th terror attack on Israel by Hamas. The review reportedly drew criticism for its portrayal of Gazans, leading to its subsequent deletion from the Guardian’s website.

In the review, the documentary was described as depicting Gazans in a negative light, referring to them as “testosterone-crazed Hamas killers”. The review further alleged that the documentary contrasted relatable Israeli victims with an indistinct portrayal of Hamas attackers, describing Israelis in personal and empathetic circumstances while depicting Hamas through general CCTV footage.

This perspective in the review drew significant backlash online, prompting the Guardian to remove the piece “pending review.” Critics of the review argued that it presented a biased representation of the conflict, failing to delve into the complexities of the situation. Others criticized the Guardian’s decision to remove the review instead of defending or amending it, questioning the newspaper’s commitment to journalistic integrity.

The review likened the narrative style of “One Day in October” to other media portrayals that have historically “othered” groups, drawing a comparison to Cy Endfield’s film “Zulu“. The emphasis on sympathetic portrayals of Israeli victims was contrasted with a more generalized portrayal of the Palestinian attackers, which the review suggested might inadvertently perpetuate stereotypes.

The Guardian’s action has sparked wider conversations about media responsibility and objectivity in reporting on sensitive geopolitical events. The original author of the review has not publicly commented on the situation following the removal of the piece.