The BBC's world affair's editor is under fire after being accused of sharing a "debunked" study which claims that more journalists in Gaza have died than in both world wars combined.

Veteran correspondent, John Simpson, 81, shared a post to his almost a quarter of a million followers on X which included disputed research by Brown University.

The widely-contested study claims that more reporters in Gaza have died since the beginning of the war than in seven conflicts, including both world wars, combined.

Veteran correspondent, John Simpson, 81, shared a post to his almost a quarter of a million followers on X which included disputed research by Brown University

On social media, Mr Simpson wrote: “According to the Watson School of International and Public Affairs in Rhode Island, more journalists have been killed in Gaza than in both world wars, the Vietnam war, the wars in Yugoslavia and the war in Afghanistan combined.”

But the accuracy of the study's figures have been disputed, with Israel raising suspicion over whether those killed in Gaza have been authentic reporters.

It comes after prominent Al Jazeera journalist, Anas al-Sharif, was killed along with five other reporters in an Israeli attack on Sunday.

The attack caused widespread condemnation from the international community, including the European Union.

It comes after prominent Al Jazeera journalist, Anas al-Sharif, was killed in along with five other reporters in an Israeli attack

However, Israel accused al-Sharif of being involved in rocket strikes and leading a Hamas terror cell - which Qatar-backed network Al-Jazeera strongly denies.

Chairman of the Spectator, Charles Moore, said that al-Sharif was a "jihadist, not a journalist".

The disputed study that Mr Simpson shared was published earlier this year in a research paper titled "News Graveyards: How Dangers to War Reporters Endanger the World".

The 36-page study says: "Gaza is quite simply the worst ever conflict for reporters.

"The Israeli government’s ban on foreign reporters, coupled with its unrestrained killing of Palestinian reporters, means there are far fewer journalists skilled at translating the news out of Gaza."

According to researchers, 232 journalists have died while reporting on the conflict in the aftermath of the October 7 attacks.

The study claims that only the Iraq War, where 285 journalists were killed, eclipses the death toll of reporters in Gaza.

It also said that only 67 journalists died in both world wars.

However, separate data from Israel's Holocaust memorial museum, Yad Vashem, shows that 1,425 reporters died “in military service” between 1933 and 1945.

Data from Israel's Holocaust memorial museum, Yad Vashem, shows that 1,425 reporters died 'in military service' between 1933 and 1945

Campaign Against Antisemitism have criticised Mr Simpson for posting "misleading" information on social media.

A spokesman for the organisation said: “He is sharing debunked studies about a conflict in which there have been multiple revelations of so-called ‘journalists’ being on Hamas’s payroll or otherwise involved in promoting antisemitic propaganda and even engaging in violence.

“BBC reporters and others taking every claim that makes the Jewish state look bad at face value without verification — what journalism used to involve — is why trust in media is crumbling."

GB News have approached the BBC for comment.