BBC apologizes for Israeli army’s false reporting on actions in Gaza – The Hollywood Reporter

Britain’s BBC broadcaster has apologized after one of its anchors misquoted a Reuters report to suggest that Israel Defense Forces soldiers were targeting “medical teams and Arabic speakers” at Gaza’s main Al-Shifa hospital.

The original Reuters report quoted an Israeli military spokesman as saying: “IDF forces include medical teams and Arabic speakers who have undergone special training to prepare for this complex and sensitive environment, with the intention that the No harm will be done to civilians.”

The BBC news anchor, citing the Reuters report, cited a false description of the entry of Israeli forces into and around Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza.

“When BBC News reported initial reports that Israeli forces had entered Gaza’s main hospital, we said that ‘medical teams and Arabic speakers’ were being targeted. This was incorrect and misquoted a Reuters report. “We should have said that IDF forces included medical teams and Arabic speakers in this operation,” the BBC said in a statement on Wednesday.

“We apologize for this error, which falls below our usual editorial standards. The correct version of events was broadcast minutes later and we apologized for the error on television later that morning,” the British public broadcaster added in the apology read out by a BBC News presenter.

The British Board of Deputies, which represents British Jewry, pointed out the BBC’s misreporting in its own statement: “At best, this shows an appalling lack of care in reporting on a highly volatile situation that can have negative repercussions.” around the world, including in Britain, where anti-Semitic attacks have increased by more than 500 percent since October 7.”