BBC director general Mark Thompson has reiterated his belief that airing a charity appeal for Gaza would put the corporation´s impartiality at risk.

Mr Thompson said the BBC could not give the impression it was "backing one side" over the other.

His comments come as about 60 MPs say they will back a parliamentary motion urging the BBC to screen the appeal.

Sky News decided on Monday that it will also not broadcast the Disasters Emergency Committee appeal for Gaza.

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."

Broadcasters ITV, Channels 4 and Five are to show the DEC film later.

Arm twisting

Criticism over the BBC´s decision not to air the appeal has come from archbishops, government ministers, charity leaders and 11,000 viewers.

The DEC, which represents more than a dozen aid agencies, is asking for money to buy food, medicine and blankets following the Israeli assault on Gaza.

Pressure has been mounting on the BBC to air the appeal, but Mr Thompson reaffirmed his stance on Monday morning.

He said the DEC had acknowledged from the outset there might be problems airing the appeal on the grounds of impartiality, and it was not the first time the BBC had decided against running an advert on their behalf.

"The public wants us to be very strict about our impartiality and it is my job to protect that impartiality," he said.

He denied his "arm had been twisted" by pro-Israeli lobbyists and said the BBC would continue to cover the humanitarian dimension of a "complicated and deeply contentious story".

Labour MP Richard Burden is putting forward the early day motion.

He said: "Last time I looked... it was 57 MPs from different parties, Labour, Conservative, Liberal Democrats and others.

"I think there´s great concern about what the BBC has done here."

Editorial independence

Culture Secretary Andy Burnham has said the BBC is right to make its own judgement over the appeal.

A string of politicians, including International Secretary Douglas Alexander, Communities Secretary Hazel Blears and opposition spokesmen, have urged the corporation to reconsider its position.

Their comments drew criticism from BBC Trust chairman Michael Lyons who said some were "coming close to constituting undue interference in the editorial independence of the BBC".

The corporation´s former director general, Greg Dyke, said it was in a "no win" situation.

Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg has accused the BBC of getting its priorities "upside down".

The Church of England also waded into the row, with the Archbishop of York appealing for the BBC to consider humanity, not impartiality, and show the film.

In a direct appeal to the BBC, Dr John Sentamu said: "Come on Auntie Beeb. Wake up and get on with it."

The Charity Commission, which regulates UK charities, echoed calls for the BBC to reconsider, saying the work of the agencies would be hampered without "maximum public support".

Labour MP Gerald Kaufman claimed the BBC was worrying about what he called the "nasty pressure" from some pro-Israeli lobbyists.

"Probably the (BBC´s) attitude has been: ´Oh this is just too much trouble´," he said.

"And it´s too much trouble because of the pressure of the Israelis. This... very active and not very pleasant Israeli diplomatic representation in Britain."

However, Conservative MP Mark Field believes the row has boosted the profile of the appeal.

"The high profile controversy has given this appeal more publicity than it could possibly have imagined getting," he said.

"In many ways, it has achieved a lot of its aims that way without necessarily having to have a fully-fledged BBC coverage."

Meanwhile, the UN Relief and Works Agency (Unrwa), the largest humanitarian actor in Gaza, said there was a "huge and overwhelming need" for aid.

Unrwa spokesman Chris Gunness told BBC Radio 4´s Today programme that the situation in Gaza was a "political crisis with grave humanitarian consequences".

He said the estimated cost of "rehabilitation and repair" was $345m (£257m), with $230m (£167m) unfunded.

"We are massively underfunded, and I think the figures involve illustrate the sheer scale of the need involved here," he said. (© BBC MMIX 01/26/09)