BBC apologizes for false claim IDF targeting medical staff, Arabic speakers in Gaza

From the Times of Israel and the Telegraph

The BBC apologizes after a presenter falsely claimed that Israel was targeting medical staff and Arabic speakers during its operation at Gaza’s Al-Shifa Hospital.

“This was incorrect and misquoted a Reuters report,” the UK broadcaster later says. “What we should have said is that IDF forces included medical staff and Arabic speakers for this operation.”

“We apologize for this error which fell below our usual editorial standards. The correct version of events was broadcast minutes later,” the BBC says.

The apology came after Jewish leaders criticised the BBC for a “staggering lack of care”.

A clip of the broadcast showed Ms Miller citing a report by news agency Reuters, which described how the IDF had confirmed it would be carrying out a “precise and targeted operation” against terror group Hamas in Gaza’s al-Shifa hospital.

Reuters had included a quote from an IDF spokesman that read: “The IDF forces include medical teams and Arabic speakers, who have undergone specified training to prepare for this complex and sensitive environment, with the intent that no harm is caused to the civilians.”

However, Ms Miller told viewers that medics and Arab speakers were being “targeted” by Israeli soldiers.

A spokesman for the Board of Deputies of British Jews said it was “absolutely appalled” by the footage, adding: “At best, this shows a staggering lack of care when reporting on a highly volatile situation, which can have a knock-on effect all over the world, including in Britain, where anti-Semitic attacks have risen by more than 500 per cent since October 7th. “Incidents like this make a mockery of the BBC’s oft-stated dedication to professionalism and impartiality.”

Last night the Israeli Embassy in London called on the BBC to “do better”, stressing that the “words of journalists” had “very clear real-world consequences”.

The broadcaster has not been descricing Hamas or its members as terrorists – but instead states in reports that it has been “proscribed” as a terror group by certain government’s, including that of the UK.

The Telegraph is awaiting further comment from the broadcaster.

Reuters has been approached for a comment.