Thread by @AGHamilton29

Outside the obvious, let me give an example of why it is irresponsible for news networks to use death totals from Hamas & how this choice isn't new:

Back in 2022, during the Second Intifada with a wave of terrorism, Israel tracked many of the attacks to the Jenin refugee camp.

Israel decided they had no choice but to go into the camp, which militants had boob-trapped and prepared for a battle. Israel went in on April 2nd. By April 7th, Palestinians were claiming over 500 dead. In the next week, they would raise that number to thousands.

CNN reported the Palestinian claims of 900+ dead. So did BBC. There were claims of a massacre, bodies being hidden etc. that dominated the press.

The Israeli operation ended on April 11th. Human rights groups and the UN then went in.

The actual casualty total based on those groups, which weren't exactly friendly with Israel, was 53 Palestinians. That includes militants and some civilians.

So overnight the death count went from 900+ civilians to 53, & mostly militants. 23 Israeli soldiers were also killed. Now the thing about the Jenin battle is bc it was in the West Bank, the numbers could be verified.

CNN & others learned little from that. Hamas is even less reliable than the PA & has full control of Gaza so there is no verifying anything they put out. These media outlets know this. They know Hamas is making up numbers (bc it's impossible to provide #'s in the time they do).

News orgs are admittedly in a tough position with Gaza bc there are no other sources and people are clearly dying, but taking the Hamas numbers as if they are real or not at least informing their audience the numbers come from Hamas, is clearly irresponsible & harmful.

Sorry I meant 2002*

https://twitter.com/aghamilton29/status/1716996378079944743