Did Hamas behead 40 babies in Israel?
On Tuesday, social media was adrift with claims that the Palestinian militant group Hamas had decapitated the heads of 40 babies in Israel. So far, mainstream outlets such as BBC, Reuters and CNN have not picked up the report as of 10 PM IST. It has been reported by right-wing websites like Fox News in the US and Indian news outlets like OpIndia, Free Press Journal and Times of India.
The news was first reported by i24News English reporter Nicole Zedeck. “About 40 babies were taken out on gurneys… Cribs overturned, strollers left behind, doors left wide open,” reported Nicole Zedeck — the language making one assume that the reporter had seen the decapitated bodies of the babies. This “massacre” apparently took place in Kibbutz Kfar Aza, which is about 6.5 km from the Gaza Strip.
This video was also posted by the official handle of the Israel government, with the video captioned with “40 babies murdered” and retweeted by i24 News English reporter Nicole Zedek. Following, which the Times of Israel wrote about it. New York-based Business Insider, which is a subsidiary of German publisher Axel Springer SE, however, was more circumspect in its reporting and attributed the news to Israel Defence Forces (IDF).
The Business Insider report, which quoted IDF spokesperson Major Nir Dinar — reported that a number was not given on how many babies were found or how many beheaded. Business Insider also said, “There hasn’t been independent confirmation of what was found, though other Israeli media have reported the same claim and attributed it to soldiers.”
Reporter Zedek facing massive backlash over the authenticity of her reporting — seems to have slightly changed her stance. From saying — “40 babies had been taken out on gurneys” she has now amended it to “soldiers told me they believe 40 babies/children were killed.” She also went onto say the death toll was “unknown.”
Sedek went on to claim at 10.10 PM IST, “For everyone doubting the atrocities I reported live on air, hear for yourself from one of the soldiers who was first to arrive at the scene of the attack.” She posted a video, where an IDF soldier could be heard talking about beheaded babies. But within minutes, she deleted her tweet.
The original tweet from i24News English which she had quote tweeted, said, “They chopped heads of children and women,” says David Ben Zion, Deputy Commandee of Unit 71 to our @Nicole_Zedek, while reporting from the massacre in Kfar Aza in southern Israel.”
i24 News English in its news article — reports on 40 bodies of babies and young children being taken out on gurneys — without any attribution.
As of Tuesday 11 PM IST, no independent confirmation by a news outlet for the 40 beheaded babies has been posted.
