THE BBC is an easy target for criticism, either for the behaviour of its stars, such as Jonathan Ross, or for its alleged political bias. An organisation as big as the BBC cannot please all the people all the time in the same way that it cannot entertain all the people all the time.

Yet it is wrong for the BBC not to broadcast the Disasters Emergency Committee appeal for support for the thousands of civilians in need in the Gaza Strip.

The BBC – and it is good to see it thinking sensitively – believes that broadcasting such an appeal would compromise its impartiality.

Yet the committee consists of 13 of this country’s largest charities, including Oxfam, Save the Children and the Red Cross. Its appeal cannot be seen as apportioning blame. It will not say that the Israeli government was wrong to launch its attacks. Nor will it say that the Hamas government was wrong to launch its rockets.

It will merely say that in the aftermath of the conflict, people are trying to get by in desperate conditions, and that we in more affluent countries – even while we struggle with the credit crunch, many Britons are still comparatively well off – might be able to ease their desperation a little.

Dr John Sentamu, the Archbishop of York, got it just about right yesterday.

He said: “This is not an appeal for Hamas – that would be horrendous and horrific. This is to help actual people who are wounded, who need medicines, who need shelter, who need food. That’s all it is.”

The BBC should screen the appeal.