The BBC has strongly denied allegations made by the White House press secretary that it took down a report on Gaza. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt accused the BBC of “taking the word of Hamas” and retracting a story about casualties near an aid distribution site in Rafah. The BBC stated this claim is “completely wrong” and said it “stands by our journalism.”
BBC Defends Coverage Amid Casualty Dispute
Leavitt criticized the BBC for changing the number of reported deaths in headlines. The BBC responded that the updates reflected new, clearly attributed information, a standard practice during breaking news events. Initial figures were provided by medics, followed by the Hamas-run health ministry, and then by the Red Cross.
Conflicting Reports on Shooting at Rafah Aid Site
There are contradictory accounts regarding a deadly incident at an aid point in Rafah. Civilians, health workers, and NGOs said Israeli troops fired at people waiting for food. Israel denied this, saying its forces did not shoot at civilians. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, which oversees aid distribution, called the reports “outright fabrications.”
Verification Challenges Due to Media Access Restrictions
The BBC highlighted the difficulty of confirming facts in Gaza, as international news outlets are barred from entry by Israel. This has complicated efforts to verify events on the ground independently. On Tuesday, local officials reported another fatal shooting incident near an aid convoy, with at least 27 people killed. The Israeli military said it fired only at suspects moving off designated routes.
BBC Rejects Misinterpretation of Video Analysis
Leavitt also accused the BBC of deleting a report after failing to verify a viral video. The BBC clarified that the video, which falsely claimed to show the Rafah aid site, was examined separately by BBC Verify. It was never aired and did not influence their reporting. The BBC said conflating this with news coverage is “simply misleading.”
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BBC rejects incorrect White House claims on Gaza coverage
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