Jews respond to New York Times initial report on Gaza hospital explosion: ‘Harassed and abused because of it’
BOSTON – Pro-Israel demonstrators expressed frustration with The New York Times’ coverage of a Gaza hospital that was damaged in an explosion.
"It’s very unfortunate that fake news is able to spread so far," Yotan said during a rally in Boston Commons. "The point is probably to have the news travel all the way across the world before the correction can be seen."
The New York Times ran a headline at that top of its website on Oct. 17, attributed to Hamas officials, stating that hundreds were killed after an Israeli airstrike caused an explosion at the Gaza hospital. Israel swiftly denied involvement and presented evidence indicating that a second terrorist group, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, caused the blast. U.S. intelligence similarly found the Jewish state wasn't responsible.
"I feel appalled that we need to actually defend ourselves when we didn’t do anything," Limor told Fox News.
On Monday, the Times published an editors' note Monday admitting that it should have been more careful and "been more explicit about what information could be verified."
JEWS RESPOND TO NEW YORK TIMES INITIAL REPORT ON GAZA HOSPITAL EXPLOSION
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Rabbi Marcia Plumb said she was glad the Times issued the editors' note, but said the damage was already done.
"It had an effect on Biden’s visit," she said. "It reverberated, and it was incredibly surprising and irresponsible."
Several other news organizations reported the information from the Hamas-run Gaza health ministry as well. Unrest followed the reports, including protests in Amman, Beirut and other cities. President Biden’s meeting with Jordan, Egypt and the Palestinian Authority leaders was canceled shortly after the blast.
NEW YORK TIMES ADMITS IT RELIED 'TOO HEAVILY' ON HAMAS CLAIMS IN INITIAL REPORT ON GAZA HOSPITAL EXPLOSION
"I think it definitely created a lot more protests that were very aggressive," Plumb said. "It added to the sense of fear that Jews feel in America and around the world."
Rabbi Marcia Plumb said she believes the New York Times' initial coverage of the blast at the Gaza hospital "added to the sense of fear that Jews feel in America and around the world." (Kassy Dillon/Fox News Digital)
Lia, who lives in Boston but is originally from Israel, said she thinks the Times’ article made Jews less safe.
"It’s anywhere from adults to kids in schools who later take this false information and use it to attack innocent Israelis just because they read some fake article," she said. "People are being harassed and abused because of it."
Tamar said she can see that the reports put Jews in danger across the world.
"I can feel people being hostile towards us," the Israeli living in Boston said.
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Karen said she felt unsafe at work following the coverage.
"I was sure that couldn’t have happened just because I know how the Israeli army works and that’s not the area that they are in," she said. "They wouldn’t have targeted a hospital on purpose, and if they did do something like that by accident, they would say it."
The New York Times admitted "editors should have taken more care with the initial presentation" of the explosion that occurred at a Gaza hospital last week after the paper "relied too heavily on claims by Hamas." ( DANIEL SLIM/AFP and DAWOOD NEMER/AFP via Getty Images)
The Times reported Sunday that Hamas refused to allow its reporters to review evidence and has not provided any information about the 471 alleged victims. The publication also reported that evidence contracting Hamas has emerged.
In its editors' note, the Times admitted it "should have taken more care with the initial presentation" and that the paper "relied too heavily on claims by Hamas."
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Jake Donnely, the activism manager for the Israeli American Council of New England, said the Times should’ve made its editors' note as prominent as the original article.
"We all make mistakes," he said. "In order to garner the trust from your readership, from your audience, make sure that that retraction and apology is as prominent as the original story."
"I wouldn’t take the stories that come out of terrorist organizations," he added. "I think that is a pretty solid rule for most journalists."
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Protesters gathered at the Boston Common to demand the release of 222 hostages held by Hamas in Gaza. (Kassy Dillon/Fox News Digital)
Hundreds attended Monday's rally in the Boston Common and demanded for the release of all hostages held by Hamas in Gaza.
About 222 hostages, including 10 Americans, are believed to be held in Gaza after being kidnapped Oct 7. when Hamas terrorists invaded southern Israel. During the surprise attack, over 1,400 Israelis, including babies, were killed, and officials said they've seen signs of torture.
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Hamas released four dual citizen hostages, including 85-year-old Yocheved Lifshitz who said she was beaten with sticks, fed only once a day and led through underground tunnels she described as a "spiderweb."
The New York Times did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Ramiro Vargas contributed to the accompanying video.
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