Two weeks ago, media headlines around the world announced that Israel had bombed a hospital in the Gaza strip, killing 500 innocent Palestinians.
The reports sparked condemnation from foreign governments and accusations that Israel had violated International laws by targeting a medical facility that in addition to treating the sick and injured, was used a shelter by hundreds of innocent civilians. With tensions rising across the Middle East, there was a real fear that the war would widen, drawing-in other hostile Arab regimes.
The reports instigated global protests to condemn Israel and unleashed a wave of ugly global antisemitism in the streets and halls of academia around the world. Until that point, most Western countries were supportive of Israel and her right to self-defence after the horrific Simchas Torah massacre. Protests in support of the Palestinians were limited and did not gain much media attention. But as a result of the hospital attack, things started to rapidly shift.
Before the smoke even cleared, politicians, governments and ordinary people were quick to adopt the narrative that Israel was to blame. Afterall, these reports were being aired by reputable, household-brand international media outlets.
No one stopped to question the authenticity and integrity of the reports. No one stopped to ask where the media got their information? And where was it sourced? From the health authorities in Gaza, which is none other than Hamas, the terror organisation that had deliberately targeted and massacred 1400 civilians and were desperate to swing the pendulum of international outcry back in their favour.
Slowly the truth began to emerge, painting a completely different picture to the initial headlines. It wasn’t the hospital itself, but rather the carpark. The figure of 500 dead was grossly inflated. And most importantly, it was not Israel who bombed the hospital, but a misfired missile from one of the Gaza-based terror organisations.
Having to defend its integrity in the international arena, Israel was forced to spend precious time and resources in the midst of a war, to investigate the event and release irrefutable proof of its innocence.
