RT.com
20 Nov 2023, 17:43 GMT+10
The BBC cast doubt on Israeli allegations of Hamas military activity in Gaza's largest hospital
Israel Defense Forces spokesperson Peter Lerner has asked the BBC and its editor Jeremy Bowen to apologize, after they called into question IDF evidence of a Hamas presence at Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza.
Israeli soldiers have been in Al-Shifa since early Wednesday, releasing footage from inside the medical complex. Lerner posted CCTV footage from the site on X (formerly Twitter), along with his verbal description of "weapons, communication equipment, RPGS, [and a] Toyota pickup laden with weapons" apparently found there. The video also showed men being carried on a gurney, their faces blurred. "Will BBCWorld apologize? Will BowenBBC say I was wrong?" he wrote.
His post was aimed at Jeremy Bowen, a BBC editor who criticized IDF restrictions on reporting from Al-Shifa in an article on Saturday, saying that "there is no independent scrutiny inside the hospital; journalists cannot move freely into Gaza, and any who are reporting from the site are working under the aegis of the Israeli military."
Al-Shifa is the largest hospital in Gaza, and has been in the media spotlight for the past six weeks. It was the location of much of the Palestinian Health Ministry's footage of civilians injured by IDF operations. Israel has claimed the hospital is connected to Hamas' extensive network of underground tunnels, and was being used as a part of the militants' infrastructure.
On October 7, Hamas launched a coordinated attack on Israel, killing at least 1,200 Israelis and injuring thousands more, as well as capturing more than 200 hostages, according to local authorities.
West Jerusalem responded with the "Swords of Iron" military operation, including a blockade of Gaza, intensive air strikes on the Palestinian enclave and an eventual ground assault, resulting in at least 12,000 deaths, including 5,000 children, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health.
Bowen went on to write of the evidence that the IDF has produced thus far, that he did not "believe [it] to be convincing in terms of the kind of rhetoric Israelis were using." He concluded that "for Israel it's crucial to prove that it had no choice other than to use methods that killed thousands of civilians" to keep its international allies' support.
The growing civilian death toll in the course of the campaign is seemingly producing a change in rhetoric from Israel's staunchest allies. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, speaking earlier this month, said that "far too many Palestinians have been killed. Far too many have suffered these past weeks."
(RT.com)
Get a daily dose of The UK News news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to The UK News.
More InformationNEW YORK, New York - U.S, and global financial markets were in crisis Friday as China increased its tariffs on the U.S. to 125 percent,...
HAMBURG, Germany: Airbus is looking to expand in-flight connectivity options through a new satellite partnership with Amazon, as the...
BANGKOK, Thailand: Thailand is adjusting its trade strategy in response to unexpectedly steep U.S. tariffs, moving to soften the economic...
NEW YORK, New York - U.S. stocks fell sharply Thursday, wiping out much of the gains that came in the relief rally a day earlier after...
LOS ANGELES, California: Over the weekend, hundreds of Hollywood workers, including crew members, producers, and actors, asked California...
ATHENS, Greece: As Europe braces for the economic fallout of new U.S. tariffs, a top eurozone official has warned the consequences...
Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], April 11 (ANI): Mohun Bagan Super Giant (MBSG) will face Bengaluru FC (BFC) in the final of the Indian...
London [UK], April 11 (ANI): Striker Mohamed Salah has signed a new deal with Liverpool FC, deciding to be with the club beyond the...
Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], April 11 (ANI): Sam Jeffery, the Commercial Director of Norwich Football Club, spoke on his club's partnership...
(250411) -- BELGRADE, April 11, 2025 (Xinhua) -- Vanja Marinkovic (C) of Partizan vies with Walter Tavares (R) of Real Madrid during...
New Delhi [India], April 10 (ANI): In a significant boost for Indian esports, Lokesh Suji has been re-elected unopposed as Vice President...
(250410) -- CELJE, April 10, 2025 (Xinhua) -- Nusa Fegic (R) of Slovenia shoots at the goal during the EHF Champions League Women 2025...