According to reports, The New York Times’ coverage of an explosion close to a hospital in the Gaza Strip that placed the blame on Israel and exaggerated the number of casualties has drawn criticism from President Joe Biden. The incident happened on October 17, and it caused controversy because the first headline in the Times connected Israel to the strike and claimed 500 deaths, citing Hamas leaders.

The Dissection of Events:

Independent investigators’ later examination disproved the initial assertions, showing that Islamic Jihad terrorists in Gaza fired a rocket that caused the explosion. The death toll was reported to be significantly lower—no more than 50 lives lost—and Israel denied any role in the incident.

Biden’s Remarks:

During a meeting with Wall Street leaders at the White House, President Biden voiced his concern, claiming that The New York Times headline may have contributed to an escalation in warfare in the region. Semafor said that Biden, looking visibly irritated, emphasized that the headline was published in an American publication.

Prolonged Animus:

There seems to be more friction between President Biden and The New York Times than just this latest criticism. According to reports, the president is still upset over how the newspaper covered his 2020 campaign and the doubts expressed about his ability to unseat Donald Trump.

Media Approach:

According to reports, Biden has been eschewing sit-downs with Times reporters in favor of conversations with opinion columnists who are thought to be more supportive of his administration. The president saw his recent meeting with Wall Street executives as a chance to regain the trust of a constituency that has become more wary of him as a result of tighter securities rules and antitrust enforcement.

The News’ Reaction:

The New York Times later modified its headlines after receiving backlash for its first coverage. The primary headline on the website, which first claimed that an Israeli strike was to blame for the disaster, was changed to reflect the lack of certainty on the explosion’s cause. The Times acknowledged in a rare editor’s note that it had over-relied on Hamas allegations and had not sufficiently verified the material.

Worldwide Responses:

The governments of France, the United States, and Canada openly denied any responsibility for the killings that occurred at Al Ahli Arab Hospital on Israel. Aside from disputing Hamas’ death toll claims, Western intelligence agencies also questioned the veracity of the fatality figures provided by Gaza officials.—————————————————————————————————————————————————————————–