Israeli Spokesperson Accuses BBC's Nick Robinson Of Lying About Gaza In Furious Row Live On Air
David Mencer was speaking to Radio 4′s Today programme as concerns over the humanitarian crisis grow in the Palestinian territory.
Israel closed all crossings into Gaza on March 2, meaning no fresh supplies have been allowed to enter since – plunging much of the 2.1 million population into starvation.
Israel has also dismantled the long-standing system for getting food into Gaza and set up its own controversial Gaza Humanitarian Foundation.
The UN has reported Palestinians being killed while seeking food, on aid routes and at distribution points, while Save the Children warned that massacres are occurring at food distribution sites every day.
Even so, Israel insists it is not responsible for the soaring rates of malnutrition.
Tensions began to rise during this morning's interview when Robinson asked the Israeli spokesperson if his country's food distribution system for Gaza was failing.
Mencer denied such a claim, saying their aid efforts were key for cutting Hamas out of the picture.
He added: 'It is working simply on the facts that 90 million meals have gone in with the new system, but Hamas – you know what they're doing?'
The presenter replied: 'That doesn't prove they're working, you've just acknowledged at the beginning of this conversation there is malnutrition, it's getting worse and there's starvation.
'So just putting a large number on the amount of food distributed doesn't prove the system is working, the evidence is whether people are getting fed or not. Some are, some are not.'
Mencer said there are two parts of the process – the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation where millions of meals are given 'directly to civilians', as well as UN coordinated shipments of medicine and raw materials.
'But you restrict access to the UN shipments, don't you?' Robinson asked.
Mencer furiously hit back: 'That's not true! That is false Nick, you must not say lies! You must not say falsehoods.'
Robinson replied: 'Don't accuse me of lying, Mr Mencer, it's cheap and it's unhelpful. I'll put some facts to you, if you think they're only a partial version, I'll give you time and chance to answer them.
'But at the time when people are dying of malnutrition, the hostages are languishing in tunnels, it really does not help for you to shout abuse over a line. I am not lying, I am putting a question to you.'
'Nick you are lying! You are lying!' Mencer said.
'Listen to the question and then you can answer it,' the presenter said.
Mencer hit back: 'I will answer the question now Nick, you've had your chance. You invited me on, indeed, your producers begged me to come on and I will now give you the facts.
'That is my job as the spokesperson for the office of the prime minister [Netanyahu] to give you the facts.'
He said there are 1,000 trucks of aid waiting on the Gaza side.
He then claimed the UN is working with Hamas to restrict the amount of aid to their own people – and alleged that the BBC does not report that.
Robinson pointed out that the UN argues they are limited in their ability to deliver food by what the UN describes as 'tremendous bureaucratic impediments, tremendous security impediments' – so trucks cannot get to civilians.
The UN pointed out that on Thursday, out of 16 attempts to coordinate humanitarian movements, only eight were facilitated by the Israeli authorities.
'If you would stop interrupting me, we could get something from this interview,' Mencer replied. 'You do not perceive Hamas to be a terrorist organisation –'
'You've no idea what I perceive. You've no idea, Mr Mencer,' the journalist said.
'Tell us all then, do you believe Hamas to be a terrorist organisation?' Mencer insisted.
'No, you're not interviewing me. I am interviewing you,' Robinson said.
Mencer replied: 'Take yourself off from those ideas that those executives upstairs tell you to say, and tell me right now you believe Hamas to be a terrorist organisation.'
Sounding rather frustrated, Robinson said: 'Mr Mencer, every interview you do this, it's very tedious for listeners, it's very tedious for me.'
After more back and forth, Robinson eventually wrapped up the extraordinary interview by saying: 'If you'd like to apply for that job at the BBC, do give it a try, but for the moment, thank you for joining us to tell us what the Israeli government is thinking.'
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