Bafta nomination for BBC documentary that got lost in translation when it substituted Israelis for Jews

The correct translation for “yahud” from Arabic to English is “Jew”.

The BBC’s chief international correspondent said that Gazan translators had advised her that Palestinian children interviewed on the programme who refer to “the Jews” actually meant Israelis.

In one instance, a Gazan child says the “yahud” are massacring Palestinians. However the subtitles read: “Israel is massacring us”.

Canada-born Ms Doucet told the JC: “We talked to people in Gaza, we talked to translators. When [the children] say ‘Jews’, they mean ‘Israelis’.

“We felt it was a better translation of it.”

She added: “We checked this again yesterday.

“We are not trying to cover it up – we took advice on it and that was the advice we were given by translators.”

The programme follows the lives of Israelis and Gazan children during and after the 50-day war, known as Operation Protective Edge, in summer 2014.

Also nominated for a Bafta is broadcaster and writer Stephen Fry. Mr Fry, who is Jewish, has been nominated in the entertainment performance category for presenting BBC2’s QI. He is up against TV personalities Graham Norton, Leigh Francis and Romesh Ranganathan.