Well, lower than a snake's belly...patronising bastards...who'd have thunk it?

Dear Ed,
Ref: CAS-8049403-Z3B2P4

Thank you for getting in touch about our article Israel launches waves of strikes on Gaza with more than 400 reportedly killed

BBC articles routinely explain that Hamas “killed about 1,200 people” on the 7th October because there is no serious dispute over the fact that around 1,200 people were killed during the 7th October attacks.

The circumstances of this attack, as with others in Israel, meant it was possible for close analysis of who had died and how.

You say:

In fact, many Israelis were killed by the implementation of The Hannibal Directive that day which is the controversial military protocol that permits the use of indiscriminate firepower, even against Israel’s own civilians, in an effort to prevent the capture of Israeli soldiers.

According to a UN report the number of people confirmed to have died from friendly fire is around 14. The idea more may have died is currently conjecture lacking independent confirmation – for instance, information showing this order resulted in deaths.

The fact a few of those who died may have been victims of “friendly fire” does not therefore make it inaccurate to say Hamas led fighters killed “about 1,200” people and the BBC’s Editorial Guidelines require that all BBC output achieve “due” impartiality and accuracy – that which is “adequate and appropriate” in the context of the output.

Best wishes,

Sean Moss

BBC News website
www.bbc.co.uk/complaints

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