Booking.com complaint: Cancellation Fee that BA do not charge

I made a booking on Booking.com for flights to Amsterdam with returns on 3rd October. the flights were for 19th and 27 October 2022. Sadly Ouma messaged me to say that oupa had taken ill and could i cancel. which i dually tried to do. I phoned Bookings.com to cancel and was told by customer service that BA would be charging me £281 for the privilege. so i phoned BA to find out why? guess what there is no cancellation fee by BA especially for such quick notice. So i phoned Bookings.com again and asked to speak to a manager, well Bookings.com now say it’s there cancellation fee.
HOw can you charge me 34 of my fare as a cancellation fee, blame BA, Lie about it all and then not let me speak to a manager from the UK (both customer service personal were from India). BA Have ed that Bookings.com have claimed the whole fee back.