BBC Apologizes After Reporting That Israeli Troops Targeted Medics During Raid On Gaza Hospital

deadline.com:

The BBC has apologized for reporting that Israeli troops targeted medics and Arab speakers during a raid on Gaza’s main hospital, Al-Shifa.

A BBC newsreader misquoted a Reuters report on the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) operation, telling viewers that soldiers were “targeting people, including medical teams as well as Arab speakers.” In reality, the Reuters report carried an Israeli military statement, saying that IDF medics and Arabic-speaking troops were on the ground to ensure that “supplies reach those in need.” The BBC said the error “fell below our usual editorial standards” and was corrected within minutes of the mistake being made.

The BBC later apologized for the error in a statement on-air. BBC News – an apology pic.twitter.com/qLyKvzWNBx The BBC has previously admitted that it was “wrong to speculate” on who was responsible for the devastating blast at Gaza City’s Al-Ahli Arab hospital last month.

Jon Donnison, an experienced BBC correspondent, told viewers: “It’s hard to see what else this could be really given the size of the explosion other than an Israeli air strike or several air strikes.” During a Campaign Against Antisemitism debate this month, Rhodri Talfan Davies, a top BBC executive, admitted that the broadcaster had made mistakes in the “fog of war.” “Mistakes happen in news reporting.