In a letter from Acevo chief executive Stephen Bubb to BBC director general Mark Thompson, obtained by Charity Times, Bubb states that he is “appalled at the decision by you not to broadcast the DEC appeal for Gaza. It is not for the BBC to decide whether or not aid can get through when the charities concerned say that they can do this.

“I also seriously question your argument that this shows partiality. It is for the British public to determine if they wish to give humanitarian support and it is deeply disappointing that the decision you have taken will impede the collection of that aid.”

Lindsay Boswell, CEO at the Institute of Fundraising, reinforced this view. He said: “I do not understand the [BBC and Sky’s] decision, I know there is a commitment to be impartial, but DEC is not about politics it is humanitarian. The DEC is about supplying food, water and blankets in Gaza. The cause of the problem in the region may be political, but the work being done is humanitarian.”

Dame Suzi Leather, chair of the Charity Commission, continued her campaign she began at the weekend, when she said: “We are very disappointed to learn of Sky’s decision today to join with the BBC in not showing the DEC Gaza emergency appeal. Emergency appeals of this nature rely on publicity to ensure they are well supported by the public, and without the funds that result from that publicity, the work of the member aid agencies of the DEC could be severely hampered.

“The need for charitable humanitarian aid in Gaza is desperate. For the past 45 years the leading international charities operating under the unique alliance of the DEC have shown themselves well able to deliver aid in areas of crisis around the world in an effective and non-partisan way.

“It is critical that the broadcasters, the banks, and other organisations do all they can to publicise and support this humanitarian appeal on behalf of the hundreds of thousands of people in desperate and undeniable need in Gaza today.”

Stuart Etherington, CEO of NCVO, offered to broker a deal between the two parties. He said: “The disagreement between the DEC and the BBC over the Gaza Appeal is unfortunate. NCVO would be happy to broker discussions between the two parties to find a solution to this issue and to strengthen relationships beyond this appeal.”

On the Charity Commissions’ decision to criticise the BBC, Etherington offered a word of caution however. “It is completely appropriate that the Charity Commission comment on the role of charities and ensure that any appeal complies with charity law. But they must be careful not to condemn the BBC’s independent assessment and decision on this matter.”

But Lindsay Boswell said: “There are those who think the Charity Commission is there only as a regulator, but I think it can, and should, be a force for good in the sector and I think it is doing that on this occasion.”

In defending the BBC’s decision Mark Thompson, BBC director general, said: “We are passionate about defending the BBC’s impartiality and we worry with such an emotive and such a political story - the United Nations this morning describing it as a political crisis with humanitarian consequences.

“We do want to cover the humanitarian story, we want to cover it in our news programmes where we can put it in context, we can do it in an even, carefully balanced, objective way. We worry about being seen to endorse something which could give people the impression that we were backing one side.”

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. The absolute impartiality of our output is fundamental to Sky News and its journalism.

“That is why, after very careful consideration, we have concluded that broadcasting an appeal for Gaza at this time is incompatible with our role in providing balanced and objective reporting of this continuing situation to our audiences in the UK and around the world. We don't believe that broadcasting such an appeal on Sky News can be combined with the balance and context that impartial journalism aims to bring to the highly charged and continuing conflict in Gaza.”