Dear Mark Thompson and senior editorial executives at the BBC,

As a TV licence payer, I am shocked by the BBC's senior editorial executives decision to refuse air time to the DEC's Gaza Appeal; claiming that your decision was to 'avoid compromising public confidence in its impartiality'.

In the eyes of so many people in the world you have done completely the opposite.

I, for one, fail to comprehend your position. Humanitarian aid is, by its very nature, inherently impartial. It is offered to those in dire need, and normal people with a normal moral compass understand that. You have fundamentally confused the political sensitivity with the humanitarian need of the innocent people of Gaza. Even the ardent supporters of Israel agree that the civilian people in Gaza need to be helped.

Furthermore, The Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) as an umbrella organisation, has always been an a political organisation that concentrates solely on humanitarian disasters. The DEC is aiming to deliver urgent, life-saving humanitarian aid. Once again the organisations involved with DEC are apolitical and the appeal is a response to humanitarian principles. These organisations have a well recognised track record.

We also know that ITV, Channel 4, channel Five, and other networks, have taken the decision to show the Gaza appeal. Clearly, they have been able to deal with the issue of impartiality and have been able to see the humanitarian situation which transcends politics.

I also fail to understand why in the past the BBC was prepared to air appeals for humanitarian crises in Burma and the Congo, but not now in Gaza. Why is delivering life saving aid to Palestinians a political act and life saving aid to the Burmese an apolitical act? The BBC could have mirrored the humanitarian approach and non partisan lead shown by the DEC and avoided placing themselves in a situation which leads people to question their impartiality.

The senior executives at the BBC clearly need to examine their moral compass. Your decision not to air DEC appeal has seriously brought BBC in to disrupt around the world and would also mean further avoidable suffering and death in Gaza. The BBC can help DEC raise millions of pounds, with which people who are suffering and dying in Gaza would get the materials and supplies which they so badly need.

I urge you to reconsider your decision and do the decent thing for the sake of the BBC's reputation and humanity’s sake air this appeal. I look forward to hearing from you.

Councillor Afzal Khan CBE, Manchester