Gaza Journalists Win UK Award Amid Silence and Controversy
Royal Television Society honors Palestinian journalists with 2025 Special Award—after backlash over initial removal and lack of recognition at ceremony.
Watan-In a powerful moment of recognition, Gaza-based journalists were awarded the 2025 Journalism Award by the Royal Television Society (RTS) in the UK during an awards ceremony held on Tuesday in London—despite prior attempts to exclude them from both nomination and acknowledgment.
The win followed recent controversy after the RTS quietly removed the “Special Award” category from its website earlier this year after the Gaza journalists were nominated, without offering a clear explanation. However, a campaign by British activists and media professionals pressured the RTS to reinstate the award. Over 370 media figures signed an open letter demanding transparency around the decision to remove the category—leading to the eventual reinstatement.
Earlier this month, the group Artists for Palestine welcomed the return of the award and issued a statement calling for a “full organizational review” in consultation with the sector the RTS claims to represent. The withdrawal was reportedly linked to earlier controversy involving the BBC’s decision to pull a documentary about Gaza due to one subject being the son of a Hamas leader.
Silent Tribute, Omitted Truths
However, according to attendees at Tuesday’s ceremony, no one was invited to accept the award, no Palestinian voices were heard, Israel was not mentioned, and the staggering toll of 208 Palestinian journalists killed in the ongoing genocide in Gaza was left unacknowledged.
In an RTS post on X (formerly Twitter), the society simply noted that the Special Award was given to journalists in Gaza, sharing a designed image of the award but omitting all further details.
On the RTS website, under the award winners section, the entry for the Special Award read:“The Middle East crisis is a highly complex and fast-developing challenge for news organizations. With international journalists unable to report from Gaza, the responsibility of covering this critical story has fallen to local media teams. These individuals face immense risks reporting directly from the front lines. This award is not for one person, team, or outlet—but honors the courage and commitment of journalists who risk their lives every day. The Royal Television Society presents the Special Award for News and Journalism to the journalists in Gaza.”
Recognition Amid Loss
Following the announcement, a group of Palestinian journalists from Gaza and the West Bank sent a message to the RTS stating:“We write to you as two more of our colleagues have just been martyred. Hossam Shabat and Mohammad Mansour were killed in Gaza today—because they were journalists. They join more than 200 Palestinian journalists killed over the past 18 months for telling Gaza’s story to the world.”
Journalist Yousuf Hammash shared the message on his X account, stating:“Gaza journalists deserve recognition. But this recognition is the bare minimum. What they truly deserve is international protection, access, support, and global outrage over their systematic targeting—turned into decisive action, not just statements or symbolic awards. Their courage must be matched by courage from those who value press freedom.”
The message continued:“We Gaza journalists do not seek awards—we know they mean little under daily bombardment. We are committed to reporting on the war against our homeland. It is our duty as media professionals. We take this responsibility with utmost seriousness and resolve.”
It also emphasized that Gaza journalists have shouldered the burden of media coverage “with unwavering strength, professionalism, creativity, and deep integrity—a heavy responsibility they have carried alone.” The letter concluded:“This is the most dangerous time in history for Palestinian journalists, yet they continue their work daily, despite enormous risks to their safety and that of their families.”
This Year’s Awards Ceremony
The RTS Awards took place on Tuesday at the Hilton London Hotel and were hosted by journalist and satirical novelist Tom Bradby. A total of 29 television categories were honored. The BBC led with 16 wins, including three awards for the comedy series “Such Brave Girls” directed by Sophie Willan.
The musical drama “This Town” by BBC and acclaimed screenwriter Steven Knight won in two newly combined categories: Best Limited Series and Best Single Drama.
The first Digital Journalism Award went to the BBC for its investigation into the documentary “The Cult of TB Joshua.” The jury praised its effective strategy for reaching underrepresented audiences. The Outstanding Contribution Award was given to Michael Jermey, former Director of News and Current Affairs at ITV, credited for several innovations, including revamping ITV’s 10 o’clock news format and creating the hour-long evening bulletin.
About the Royal Television Society
Founded in 1927, the RTS is the oldest television society in the world and a UK-based educational charity focused on the discussion and analysis of all forms of television. It has 14 regional and national centers across the UK and a branch in the Republic of Ireland. The society received its royal charter in 1966, and the Prince of Wales became its patron in November 1997.
