On July 28, 2014, during Operation Protective Edge, a just implemented Eid al Fitr truce was broken when two shells slammed into Shifa Hospital and Shati Refugee Camp. The former did limited damage to an outlying structure, the latter hit a group of children playing outside for the first time in weeks, killing almost a dozen. Hamas and some reporters (notably NBC’s notoriously pro-Palestinian journalist, Ayman Mohyeldin), blamed Israel. Israel rapidly denied any involvement and produced graphics of the trajectory of the Palestinian rockets.
The media, however, continued to play he-said, she-said, while allowing the unspoken assumption to prevail that it was Israel. Below is a listing of the various clusters of media coverage. This post is a footnote for the discussion of this matter in my book ms: They’re So Smart cause We’re So Stupid: A Medievalist’s Guide to the 21st Century.
Hamas Statement on Blaming Israel:
“The story being put forth by the ‘Occupation’ that resistance rockets fell in Shifa Hospital and at the Children’s Park in the Al-Shati Refugee camp is a failed attempt to escape from this crime and its fears that this crime will be exposed and held judicially accountable,” said Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri.
Blame Israel
- http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/2/8/107287/World/Region/-Palestinian-children-among–dead-as-Israel-hits-G.aspx
- Notes Israel accuses “Palestinian militants”
- http://www.imemc.org/article/68646
- An NBC journalist Mohyeldin, who claims to have witnessed the bombing, tweeted that it was an Israeli drone which was responsible.
- http://www.pinterest.com/pin/314900198918525033/
- Al Shifa Hospital after Israeli airstrike on a park and playground near Shati (Beach) Refugee Camp, Gaza City.July 28, 2014.
- http://eaworldview.com/2014/07/gaza-summary-us-ceasefire-plan-collapses-now/
- “apparent Israeli strike”
- Israel denies
- http://maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=716699
- Israel bombs playground
- https://adonis49.wordpress.com/2014/07/29/children-playground-turned-graveyard-by-israel-bombs-in-gaza/
- Israel turns playground into graveyard
- https://maktoob.sports.yahoo.com/%D8%B5%D9%88%D8%B1/tensions-in-gaza-strip-intensify-slideshow/the-attack-on-al-shati-refugee-camp-in-gaza-photo-1406569977905.html
- HRW blames Israel
- http://www.globalresearch.ca/10-palestinians-killed-as-israel-bombs-gaza-playground/5393718
- Israel bombs Playground
- http://www.thenation.com/article/180797/missile-strike-al-shati-refugee-camp-kills-10-including-8-children
- Israel claims misfired rocket but “witnesses” say airstrike
- http://972mag.com/photos-another-deadly-week-in-gaza/94701/
- Refers to “attack” which infers blame on Israel
- http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=11300651
- “more children die in gaza bloodshed”
Palestinian media outlets quickly dubbed the Shati playground explosion “the Eid massacre”
- http://countercurrentnews.com/2014/07/israeli-drone-bombs-gaza-playground/#
- Makes a point to say “no combatants” killed
- http://www.ibtimes.com/eid-al-fitr-massacre-philippines-21-dead-including-women-children-1640790
- This happened in the Phillipines by a Muslim separatist group but was an actual massacre, +20 people killed, however majority of media coverage is about Shati
- http://politicalblindspot.com/israeli-drone-bombs-gaza-playground-in-eid-massacre-killing-10-civilians-no-combatants/
- Israel bombs Eid celebration
- “The IDF, however, has said that this was the result of a “failed rocket attacks” launched by Hamas, even though the drone was scene by nearly all witnesses at the scene of the bombing.”
- http://www.sott.net/article/282743-10-Palestinians-mostly-children-killed-as-Israel-bombs-Gaza-park-on-Eid-al-Fitr-day
- Acknowledges Israeli claim but puts in quotation marks, giving doubt to claim
Blame Unclear/Trade Blame/Israel Denies
- http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2708165/Miracle-baby-delivered-dead-woman-s-womb-mother-killed-Israeli-airstrike-UN-Security-Council-calls-immediate-Gaza-ceasefire.html
- Israel denies responsibility
- http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Latest-News-Wires/2014/0728/Ten-dead-including-nine-children-after-missile-lands-in-Gaza-park
- Trade blame
- http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2014/07/deaths-as-israel-resumes-gaza-strikes-20147281452469626.html
- Israel denies, hamas denies
- http://www.inquisitr.com/1378864/rockets-strike-gaza-hospital-park-at-least-10-dead/
- However, Gaza’s Interior Ministry spokesman Eyad al-Bozum told news reporters that he believes shrapnel found in the victims’ bodies is evidence of Israel’s involvement. He asserted, “The occupation claims that Palestinian rockets hit the hospital and park. This is an attempt to cover their ugly crime against children and civilians, and because of their fear of scandal and international legal prosecution.”
- “israel claims”
- http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2014/07/28/israel-denies-striking-gaza-hospital-park/
- Trade blame, israel “says” errant hamas rocket
- http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/middle-east-unrest/strikes-near-gazas-shifa-hospital-refugee-camp-kill-least-10-n166571
- Early reports from the ground had said an Israeli drone appeared responsible for the attack.
- Israel has been criticized forseveral strikes which hit hospitals in the Gaza Stripduring its recent offensive.
- http://cnsnews.com/news/article/patrick-goodenough/state-dept-cant-place-blame-childrens-deaths-gaza-24-hrs-after
- Cant place blame
- http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/photography/2014/07/photos_from_the_israeli_palestine_conflict_in_gaza.html
- Doesn’t blame anyone but pictures incendiary, incl pics of dead ppl covered in Hamas flags
- http://www.aol.com/article/2014/07/28/strike-hits-gaza-park-killing-at-least-10/20938047/
- Trade blame
- http://www.dailydot.com/news/nbc-news-ayman-mohyeldin-edit/
- Originally blamed Israel, article gives sense this is Israeli influence/conspiracy for change
- http://www.ottawacitizen.com/Palestinian+mourners+Gaza+City+Shifa+hospital+after+explosion+killed+eight+children+public+playground+beachfront+Shati+refugee+camp+July+2014+Israeli+army+today+categorically+denied+firing+hospital+refugee+camp+Gaza+City+accusing+Hamas/10069242/story.html
- Israel blames Hamas (not even blame unclear)
- http://citizen.co.za/afp_feed_article/8-children-among-10-dead-as-rockets-hit-gaza-refugee-camp/
- Witnesses say Israel F-16, Israel categorically denies
- http://www.pressdemocrat.com/news/world/2445482-181/hamas-israel-blame-each-other
- Another man stood beside a pool of blood and cried: “We don’t want an agreement. We don’t want a cease-fire. All of us, children, women, will give our souls for God!”
- https://www.facebook.com/FBNewswire/posts/749988905039233
- Israel blames “Palestinian Terrorists”
- http://www.newsweek.com/gaza-attacks-israel-and-palestine-blame-each-other-262196
- Blame each other
- http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/624467/children-killed-in-gaza-camp-as-world-pleads-for-truce
- Exchanges of fire
- http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/israel-gaza-conflict-2014/.premium-1.607739
- Israel and Hamas deny
- http://www.voanews.com/content/un-calls-for-immediate-unconditional-cease-fire-in-gaza/1966307.html
- Traded blame
- http://www.vnews.com/news/nation/world/12930387-95/what-is-coming-will-be-worse
- Focus of story is Israel threatening it wll get worse
- http://www.vosizneias.com/173215/2014/07/28/gaza-city-palestinians-say-israeli-strikes-hit-gaza-hospital-park/
- Trade blame
- http://www.timesofisrael.com/idf-terrorists-rockets-hit-gaza-hospital-refugee-camp/
- AFP says IDF strike, Israel says pal militant rocket
- http://www.ibtimes.com/gazas-shifa-hospital-al-shati-refugee-camp-hit-missiles-least-40-dead-injured-1640866
- Palestinian Officials tell, Israelis claim
- http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4551353,00.html
- AP story
- http://m.theepochtimes.com/n3/820948-hamas-israel-trade-blame-for-deaths-of-9-children-in-gaza/
- Trade blame
- http://rt.com/news/176216-children-gaza-israel-strike/
- Blame each other
- http://www.thewire.com/global/2014/07/israelis-and-palestinians-trade-blame-over-gaza-hospital-srike/375169/
- Trade blame but notes Israels not so illustrious history of hitting hospitals
- http://www.denverpost.com/ci_26229059/relative-lull-gaza-un-calls-cease-fire
- Focus on Israeli destruction
- http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/israelgaza-conflict-10-palestinians-killed-and-46-injured-in-airstrike-on-hospital-and-park-9633796.html
- The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) tweeted that Hamas were to blame for the deaths in Gaza, and accused the group of “hit[ting] their own people” with misfired rockets. But officials from Gaza’s police operations room, Civil Defence and Sahabani, said the deaths and injuries were caused by Israeli airstrikes.
- http://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/29/world/middleeast/israel-gaza-conflict.html
- Hamas blamed Israel for both strikes but the Israeli military insisted it had not carried out any attacks in those areas and said the blasts were caused by misfired Hamas rockets meant to hit Israel.
Blame Hamas
- http://www.newrepublic.com/article/119046/gaza-war-media-coverage-lacked-reporting-hamas-fighters-tactics
- Also a piece on Hamas’ intimidation of the media
- http://www.terrorism-info.org.il/Data/articles/Art_20699/E_141_14_1634181847.pdf
- Italian correspondent Gabriele Barbati, who represents the Radio Popolare Milano station in Jerusalem, tweeted the following immediately after he left the Gaza Strip:
“Out of Gaza far from Hamas retaliation: misfired rocket killed children yday in Shati. Witness: militants rushed and cleared debris. 10:46 a.m. Tue, Jul 29. IDF Spokesperson said truth in communique released yesterday about Shati camp massacre. It was not Israel behind it”
- http://www.algemeiner.com/2014/07/28/idf-palestinian-casualties-at-gazas-al-shifa-hospital-al-shati-camp-from-hamas-rockets-falling-short/
- Acknowledges Pal claims blaming Israel but not treated as credible
- http://www.barenakedislam.com/2014/07/28/media-fail-blaming-israel-for-bombing-gaza-hospital-and-refugee-camp-when-it-was-hamas-launched-rockets-that-fell-short-and-hit-gaza/
- Blog, not clear how reliable
- http://www.idfblog.com/blog/2014/07/31/hamas-launches-rockets-civilians-gaza/
- IDF Blog
- http://pumabydesign001.com/2014/07/29/hamas-rockets-not-israels-hit-gaza-hospital-refugee-camp/
- Blog
- http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/183509
- An Italian journalist who until Tuesday was embedded in Gaza has backed the IDF’s account of a rocket strike on a school playground in central Gaza’s Shati refugee camp on Monday.
Clean Up Crews (most refer to Shifa and not Shati)
- http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/israelgaza-conflict-10-palestinians-killed-and-46-injured-in-airstrike-on-hospital-and-park-9633796.html
- Camera crews were prevented from filming the area of impact at Shifa, according to reporters on the scene. (likely evidence of a clean up crew)
- http://www.standard.co.uk/news/world/at-least-10-palestinians-killed-including-children-in-strike-on-gaza-park-9633915.html
- Also mutual blame
- Camera crews were prevented from filming the area.
- http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/183509
- Has barbati tweet about clean up crews
- http://www.bostonglobe.com/news/world/2014/07/28/israel-carries-out-strikes-gaza/xjKruJGRKZcqeh2mmKKjxH/story.html
- Trade blame
- Camera crews were prevented from filming the area of impact at Shifa.
- http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2014/07/28/336000847/conflict-in-gaza-heres-what-you-need-to-know-today
- Trade blame
- “The strike on the park occurred a few minutes after the hospital’s outpatient clinic was hit, leaving several people wounded. Camera crews were prevented from filming the area of impact at Shifa.”
- http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/world/eid-of-blood-as-israeli-military-warns-worse-is-to-come/story-e6frg6so-1227005206167
- Basically blames Israel with title: “the eid of blood”
- The strike (on Shati) occurred a few minutes after an outpatient clinic at Gaza’s main hospital, Shifa, was hit, leaving several people wounded. Camera crews were prevented from filming the area of impact at Shifa.
- http://news.yahoo.com/strike-hits-gaza-park-killing-least-10-154600802.html
- Trade blame, film crews prevented
- http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/07/28/gaza-al-shifa-hospital-ai_n_5626893.html
- Mutual blame, film crews prevented
- http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2014/07/29/world/attack-park-gaza-war-kills-10-children-sides-blame/
- Mutual blame, film crews prevented
- http://www.philly.com/philly/news/20140729_Netanyahu_warns_of_prolonged_Gaza_war.html?c=r
- Mutual blame, film crews prevented
- http://www.thestar.com/news/world/2014/07/28/israel_hits_gaza_with_three_airstrikes_at_start_of_muslim_holiday.html
- Mutual blame, film crews prevented
- http://drive.euoa.net/again-every-reporter-gets-it-wrong-shati-and-shifa-blasts-3348.html
- http://elderofziyon.blogspot.co.il/2014/07/again-every-reporter-gets-it-wrong.html
- Elder of Zion commentary, mentions how crews prevented sign of clean up crews
For a sense of how the coverage fell out, see the following graphic:
Leave a Reply