CBS took another wave of backlash over a post on X that suggested Israeli forces had struck a hospital in Gaza — despite video evidence and multiple reports from U.S. and Israeli intelligence confirming that Israel was not responsible.
The post in question appeared to focus on talking points that were coming out of Gaza, and while it did not, as some have, explicitly claim that Israel had struck the hospital, it hinted at Israel’s involvement by noting that Israeli Defense Forces had “warned the facility to evacuate” — something that the Israeli military often does ahead of a planned strike on a Hamas target in order to limit civilian casualties.
“The humanitarian crisis in Gaza continues to grow following a hospital explosion that killed hundreds. CBS News spoke to a doctor who says Israel’s army had previously warned the facility to evacuate,” the post read.
The humanitarian crisis in Gaza continues to grow following a hospital explosion that killed hundreds. CBS News spoke to a doctor who says Israel's army had previously warned the facility to evacuate. pic.twitter.com/QhJhOomDG1
— CBS Evening News (@CBSEveningNews) October 18, 2023
Critics were not impressed with the outlet’s framing of the story — particularly after even President Joe Biden had confirmed during his Wednesday visit to Israel that “the other team” had been responsible for the destruction and loss of life.
“Did Hamas write this tweet?” Jeremy Redfern, press secretary for Governor Ron DeSantis (R-FL) asked.
Did Hamas write this tweet?
— Jeremy Redfern (@JeremyRedfernFL) October 19, 2023
“There were not hundreds killed. Hamas lied. It was a PIJ [Palestinian Islamic Jihad] rocket (aimed at Israeli civilians) that failed, broke apart, and landed in the hospital parking lot, causing a fireball. The hospital is still there, undamaged,” Loren Heal posted.
“Holy hell CBS. When did you become Al Jazeera?” Rick Canton asked.
“And again @CBSEveningNews – ‘explosion’ instead of ‘Hamas rocket.’ ‘Killed hundreds’ – no it didn’t. ‘Hospital’ instead of ‘parking lot.’ ZERO CREDIBILITY from legacy media,” actress Patricia Heaton called them out as well.
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And again @CBSEveningNews – “explosion” instead of “Hamas rocket.” “Killed hundreds” – no it didn’t. “Hospital” instead of “parking lot.” ZERO CREDIBILITY from legacy media. https://t.co/IQ5CMmulQp
— Patricia Heaton (@PatriciaHeaton) October 19, 2023
“However much you hate these people, it’s not enough,” another posted. “We now have extensive evidence as to who is responsible. CBS doesn’t mention any of that evidence during the segment, instead implying the whole time that Israel is responsible.”
CBS took criticism earlier in the week for a report on the horrific Hamas attacks against Israeli civilians, namely because the outlet had used scare quotes around the word massacre when referencing what was quite literally the massacre of civilians — including women, children, and even babies.