Sky News has announced that it is joining the BBC in refusing
to broadcast an emergency appeal for Gaza.
The broadcaster said in a statement that it had informed the
Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC), an umbrella organisation
for 13 humanitarian aid agencies, of its decision.
John Ryley, head of Sky News, said: "The conflict in Gaza forms part of one of the most challenging and contentious stories for any news organisation to cover. Our commitment as journalists is to cover all sides of that story with uncompromising objectivity."
The decision comes after BBC director general Mark Thompson defended the corporation's decision not to broadcast the appeal in spite of more than 10,000 complaints.
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He said the BBC was "passionate" about defending its impartiality.
Speaking on Sky News, the channel's head of foreign news, Adrian Wells, said: "Passions are raised on this story, passions are raised in this country and that is only a small reflection of the passions raised in the Middle East. And that is part of the backdrop of why we've made the decision we've made.
