The BBC has strongly rejected criticism from the White House over its reporting on a recent incident in Gaza, calling accusations that it removed a story “completely wrong” and reaffirming its commitment to accurate and transparent journalism.
At a White House press briefing on Tuesday, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt accused the BBC of taking “the word of Hamas” in its coverage of casualties from a shooting near an aid distribution site in Rafah on Sunday. Leavitt also incorrectly claimed that the broadcaster had pulled a story from its website after failing to verify details.
In a statement issued shortly after the briefing, the BBC called the allegation “completely wrong,” stating, “We did not remove any story and we stand by our journalism.”
The corporation clarified that the headline of the report was updated throughout the day as new casualty figures emerged — a standard editorial practice for fast-developing stories. “The numbers were always clearly attributed,” the BBC said, noting it cited a range of sources including medics, the Hamas-run health ministry, and the Red Cross. The figures ranged from an initial 15 killed to a later confirmed toll of at least 21.
The controversy centres on an incident at an aid centre in Rafah, where civilian witnesses and aid groups reported that people queuing for food were fired upon. The Israeli military denies its troops fired on civilians and has labelled the reports “false.” The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, a U.S. and Israel-supported organisation overseeing aid distribution, dismissed the accounts as “outright fabrications.”
Access to Gaza for foreign journalists remains restricted, and the BBC reiterated the challenges of verifying reports on the ground. “International journalists are not currently allowed into Gaza and we would welcome the support of the White House in our call for immediate access,” the BBC added.
The White House also took issue with a separate analysis by BBC Verify, which examined a viral video supposedly showing the Rafah incident. The BBC clarified that its investigation concluded the footage was unrelated and did not inform any of its news coverage. “Conflating these two stories is simply misleading,” the broadcaster said.
The incident comes amid Israel’s continued military operation in Gaza, launched in response to Hamas’ October 7, 2023 attacks, which killed around 1,200 people and saw 251 taken hostage. The Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza claims over 54,000 people have been killed since then, including more than 4,200 since mid-March.
As tensions escalate both on the ground and in the media, the BBC has called for accuracy, transparency, and independent access to help ensure credible reporting from conflict zones.
