| Published June 1, 2025
Multiple press outlets, including Fox News, the Associated Press, CNN, the BCC, and other outlets, ran with a report early Sunday morning claiming Israeli forces randomly opened fire on civilians gathered to collect aid. Sourced by the “health officials” and “witnesses,” the claim involved dozens being killed and “at least” 175 injured.
Here are some excerpts from Fox News’ report, which largely regurgitates the Associated Press’ reporting.
At least 26 Palestinians were killed and at least 175 were wounded as they made their way to receive food in the Gaza Strip, according to health officials and witnesses.
Witnesses said Israeli forces fired on crowds around 1,000 yards away from an aid site run by the Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. A Palestinian journalist told the BBC that thousands of Palestinians had gathered near the aid site near Gaza’s southern city of Rafah when Israeli tanks approached and opened fire on the crowd…
…The organization’s distribution of aid has been marred by chaos, with multiple witnesses having said Israeli troops fired on crowds near the delivery sites. Before Sunday, at least six people had been killed and more than 50 wounded, according to local health officials.
The Fox News tweet has since been deleted. However, below is a screenshot of the tweet:
The Associated Press has even been running “death toll” updates, all sourced by Hamas-controlled “health officials.”
Well, except someone did capture video of the exact time of the supposed war crime on video. Guess what it showed?
Update via @IsraelWarRoom:
The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation says that talk of a “massacre” at the aid sites are “untrue and fabricated” and that the aid was distributed without incident. https://t.co/Txw5iNDdao pic.twitter.com/dAmkwliLOg
— Eitan Fischberger (@EFischberger) June 1, 2025
To recap, major news outlets, including Fox News, ran with a completely unsubstantiated tale of IDF forces carrying out a mass attack on civilians trying to collect aid. They didn’t ask for any proof before spewing claims that were obviously sourced by Hamas. Further, one day prior, Hamas told the United States that any ceasefire deal must include the cessation of current aid distribution. Why? Because when the terrorists don’t control the aid, it strips them of their control over the people. Yet, these “news outlets” still uncritically reported a made-up blood libel about an aid center being the site of a massacre.
This harkens back to the mass of false reporting in November of 2023 about Israel supposedly bombing a hospital and killing at least 700 people. By the next day, it was made clear that not only was there no bombing by Israel (a Palestinian Jihad rocket had fallen short in an adjoining parking lot), but that the actual death toll was around 25 people. Yet, CNN, the AP, Fox News, and the rest continue to cite the “Gaza Health Ministry” despite its long history of lying to prop up Hamas. What an absolute disgrace the press is.
The incident highlighted in the RedState article—where major news outlets such as Fox News, , the Associated Press (AP), and CNN reported on an alleged Israeli attack on Palestinian civilians based on claims from Hamas-controlled sources, only for surveillance footage to later contradict these reports—has significant implications for journalism, public trust, and information warfare.
Key Implications
1. Erosion of Media Credibility
This event underscores the risks of relying on unverified information from parties involved in a conflict. By disseminating claims from Hamas-controlled “health officials” without independent verification, these outlets compromised their credibility. Such missteps can lead to public skepticism regarding media accuracy, especially in conflict reporting.
2. Amplification of Propaganda
Uncritical reporting of unverified claims can inadvertently serve as a conduit for propaganda. In this case, the dissemination of Hamas-sourced narratives without corroboration may have furthered the group’s objectives by shaping international perceptions and influencing public opinion against Israel.
3. Challenges in the Age of Real-Time Reporting
The proliferation of real-time information through social media and other platforms pressures news organizations to report swiftly. However, this urgency can compromise the verification process, leading to the spread of misinformation. As noted by media analysts, the sheer volume of content and the speed at which it spreads make it challenging to discern fact from fiction .
4. Need for Enhanced Verification Mechanisms
The incident highlights the necessity for news organizations to strengthen their verification protocols, especially when reporting on sensitive and potentially inflammatory events. Implementing robust fact-checking processes and cross-referencing multiple sources can mitigate the risk of disseminating false information.
5. Impact on Public Perception and Policy
Inaccurate reporting can influence public sentiment and, by extension, policy decisions. Misrepresentations of events can lead to misguided calls for action, diplomatic tensions, or shifts in public support, underscoring the responsibility of media outlets to ensure accuracy.
Overall Takeaway:
Major news outlets compromised journalistic integrity by uncritically reporting a false narrative sourced from Hamas, which was later contradicted by video evidence—highlighting the urgent need for stricter verification practices, especially in conflict zones. This incident erodes public trust, amplifies propaganda, and shows how quickly misinformation can spread when accuracy is sacrificed for speed.
SOURCE: REDSTATE – Fox News, AP, CNN, Others Ran With Massive Hamas-Sourced Fake News, Then the Surveillance Video
