On Tuesday, several media outlets quickly condemned Israel for the airstrike that hit the Al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza City, despite evidence suggesting that the Islamic Jihad terrorist organization was responsible.
Important news agencies such as Reuters, EFE Noticias, CNN, The New York Times, and BBC, among others, reported on the bombing of the hospital, pointing directly at Israel as the culprit and supporting this information only with statements from Palestinian officials.
Media outlets around the globe were quick to run Hamas’ headlines—without fact checking.
We now know that an Islamic Jihad rocket aimed at Israel misfired and hit the hospital in Gaza. pic.twitter.com/DzJgsbxS4i
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) October 17, 2023
"An Israeli air strike killed hundreds of Palestinians at a Gaza City hospital crammed with patients and displaced people, health authorities in the besieged enclave said," Reuters shared via X.
BREAKING: An Israeli air strike killed hundreds of Palestinians at a Gaza City hospital crammed with patients and displaced people, health authorities in the besieged enclave said https://t.co/mEam2SDwFH pic.twitter.com/iIIowjPq5l
— Reuters (@Reuters) October 17, 2023
EFE also used social media to share that hundreds of deaths occurred in an "Israeli bombing" and even provided their platform to politicians who condemned the Jewish country and blamed it for committing a war crime.
La vicepresidenta en funciones, Yolanda Díaz, denuncia que el bombardeo israelí a un hospital de Gaza es un "crimen de guerra", mientras que las ministras de Igualdad y Derechos Sociales en funciones, Irene Montero e Ione Belarra, piden "pararle los pies" a Netanyahu. pic.twitter.com/rzvICv0oxe
— EFE Noticias (@EFEnoticias) October 17, 2023
CNN shared a video announcing the bombing with the headline: "Hamas: Hundreds killed in Israeli strike on hospital in Gaza."
Hundreds are likely dead after bombing of Gaza's Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital, which was sheltering thousands of displaced people, the Palestinian Health Ministry said https://t.co/NsrFUVMGSb pic.twitter.com/cBeyh95iCI
— CNN (@CNN) October 17, 2023
"Hundreds feared dead or injured in Israeli air strike on hospital in Gaza, Palestinian officials say," BBC reported.
Hundreds feared dead or injured in Israeli air strike on hospital in Gaza, Palestinian officials say https://t.co/o4YG12mclj
— BBC Breaking News (@BBCBreaking) October 17, 2023
The New York Times also shared something similar via X, using the Palestinian Health Ministry as a source. "At least 500 people were killed by an Israeli airstrike at a Gaza hospital."
Update: At least 500 people were killed by an Israeli airstrike at a Gaza hospital, the Palestinian Health Ministry said. Follow our live coverage. https://t.co/f3iHo5nFNy
— The New York Times (@nytimes) October 17, 2023
However, the analysis of the emerging video evidence seems to demonstrate that Israel was not responsible for the attack. In fact, the geolocation platform Geoconfirmed uploaded several images showing that the attack on Al-Ahli Hospital came from a missile launched by a Palestinian group that exploded in the air, causing one of its pieces to explode in the health center.
Conclusion:
A missile launched by a Palestinian group exploded mid-air (Reason unknown) and one piece fell on the hospital causing an explosion.
The geolocation and timing of the footage is conclusive.
More information will be added to this thread.
11/X pic.twitter.com/jDJn4OZJLO
— GeoConfirmed (@GeoConfirmed) October 17, 2023
Journalist Jana Beris also shared a video from Netiv Haasará security cameras demonstrating that the rockets were launched from northern Gaza.
LA Yihad Islámica disparó al hospital en Gaza. No fue Israel. Así lo captaron las cámaras de seguridad de Netiv Haasará. pic.twitter.com/zoaI1rkHB4
— Jana Beris (@JanaBeris1) October 17, 2023
Other videos have come to light that appear to support the version given by the Israel Defense Forces that the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) organization is responsible for the failed launch that hit the hospital.
Breaking: IDF Spokesperson
From the analysis of the operational systems of the IDF, an enemy rocket barrage was carried out towards Israel, which passed through the vicinity of the hospital when it was hit.
According to intelligence information, from several sources we have,…
— Israel ישראל 🇮🇱 (@Israel) October 17, 2023
"It's time to ask why news organizations, like the BBC and Sky News, first report that Israel is to blame for hitting the hospital in Gaza and only then check the facts and realize they got it wrong, that it was actually Islamic Jihad," commented the Israeli politician Yair Lapi.
It's time to ask why news organizations, like the BBC and Sky News, first report that Israel is to blame for hitting the hospital in Gaza and only then check the facts and realize they got it wrong, that it was actually Islamic Jihad.
— יאיר לפיד - Yair Lapid (@yairlapid) October 17, 2023
