White House attacks BBC over Gaza coverage
The White House has publicly criticized the BBC over its recent coverage of the conflict in Gaza, accusing the broadcaster of uncritically accepting and amplifying Hamas’s narrative.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt condemned the BBC for reportedly changing headlines and retracting a report about an Israeli military strike that caused civilian casualties. Leavitt asserted that the BBC had failed to scrutinize Hamas’s claims, allowing the militant group’s version of events to dominate the coverage, saying, “Unlike some in the media, we don’t take the word of Hamas with total truth”.
In response, the BBC defended its journalistic practices, stating that headline changes were made in line with evolving information and standard editorial guidelines. The broadcaster emphasized its commitment to impartiality and denied that any external videos or social media content influenced its reporting.
The BBC said that its headlines were “updated throughout the day with the latest fatality figures as they came in from various sources”, adding that this is “normal practice”.
The controversy escalated after a video surfaced showing a Gaza resident accusing Hamas of deliberately creating chaos and casualties at aid distribution centers operated by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF).
This came shortly after the GHF temporarily suspended operations following an incident where the Hamas-run Gaza health ministry claimed Israeli forces killed at least 27 civilians during a military operation. The Israeli military denied firing directly at civilians, stating only warning shots were issued.
This dispute underscores ongoing tensions between U.S. officials and international media outlets regarding the accuracy and framing of news from conflict zones. The White House’s criticism reflects wider concerns about how the Israel-Hamas conflict is portrayed in global media and its impact on public understanding and international relations.
As the situation in Gaza remains volatile, both governments and media organizations face intense scrutiny over the narratives they promote and the facts they choose to highlight.
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