6 days ago
Trump attacks BBC over Gaza misreporting
The White House has launched an attack on the BBC and its coverage of a chaotic aid mission in Gaza, accusing the broadcaster of taking Hamas's account as 'total truth'.
On Tuesday, Karoline Leavitt, Donald Trump's press secretary, was asked about reports that Israeli security forces had shot Palestinians dead as they waited for food distribution.
Ms Leavitt said US officials were trying to confirm what had happened before pivoting to criticise the BBC.
'Unfortunately, unlike some in the media, we don't take the word of Hamas with total truth,' she said.
'We like to look into it when they speak … unlike the BBC.'
She brandished a printout of stories published on the BBC website a day earlier, and described how the headlines changed from claiming an Israeli tank had killed 26 people, to 21 people, to that gunfire had killed 31.
'And then, oh, wait, they had to correct and take down their entire story, saying we reviewed the footage and couldn't find any evidence of anything,' she said.
'So we're going to look into reports before we confirm them from this podium or before we take action. And I suggest that journalists who actually care about truth do the same to reduce the amount of misinformation that's going around the globe.'
BBC Attempt 1: "Israeli tanks kill 26."
BBC Attempt 2: "Israeli tanks kill 31."
BBC Attempt 3: "Israeli gunfire kills 31."
BBC Attempt 4: "Red Cross says 21 people killed in aid incident."
BBC Attempt 5: "We reviewed the footage and couldn't find any evidence of anything."
— Eyal Yakoby (@EYakoby) June 2, 2025
The BBC later issued a clarification on the story:
Yesterday BBC and others (CNN, AP, Reuters, etc) claimed that 31 were killed at a GHF aid distribution center in Gaza. Hours after it was denied by everyone, the bold headlines stayed on their websites, spreading H×mas lies.
Only today BBC retracted the story 👇
— Dr. Eli David (@DrEliDavid) June 2, 2025
A US and Israeli-backed group began distributing aid in Gaza last week, but its distribution point descended into chaos after it was overrun by thousands of Palestinians.
Health officials in Hamas-run Gaza say at least 27 Palestinians were killed and dozens wounded at a food distribution site on Tuesday.
Israel's international reputation stands on a knife-edge due to its expanded military offensive in Gaza and the new controversial aid distribution system.
Israel insists that by setting up purpose-built distribution hubs in the largely flattened southern area city of Rafah, it is both fulfilling its humanitarian commitments and preventing Hamas from stealing the aid.
However, the UN and other NGOs are distancing themselves from the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, the American company set up to distribute the aid, because they say it violates humanitarian principles by forcing civilians to walk long and dangerous journeys to receive it.
They also allege that it 'politicises' aid by forcing the population into the south and thus making it easier for the IDF to conduct its new 'seize, hold and demolish' strategy elsewhere.
Some have even suggested it sets the condition for the realisation of Mr Trump's controversial Gaza 'riviera' vision, which envisages the forcible displacement of the Palestinians from the territory.
There have now been three shooting events which implicate the IDF. They have resulted in the deaths of more than 50 civilians. Witnesses have alleged sniper fire and shelling, with corpses lining the road to the new aid hubs.
The next few days are seen as crucial in saving the credibility of the project – for which the US is Israel's only major backer – and by extension the Jewish state's continued war against Hamas.
The BBC has been approached for comment.
