Finally got a reply from The Independent about the "Hamas killed 1,200 on Oct 7th" bollox...
Posted by Ed on June 4, 2025, 7:07 pm
...hmm, been emailing as many msm outlets as I could over the past year about the often repeated lie that "Hamas killed 1,200 people on October 7th". The only reply I ever got was from the BiBiC which dismissed my complaint/observation out of hand, despite the fact that Israeli officials and the Israeli msm themselves had disputed this figure and had mentioned the use of Hannibal Directive in this context. They basically said there was no proof that this lie was wrong or that the Hannibal Directive had ever been implemented on that day.
That "You make a good point" line, sounds to me like The Independent are saying it is a new idea that they weren't aware of and had never occurred to them before. Of course, does anyone believe that bullshit for one second?
Anyway, here's the reply from The Independent about the use of this lie in a piece that MarkNadim had linked to, with the original complaint email, below.
Reply: Richard Best (The Independent)
Jun 4, 2025, 14:50 GMT+1
Hi Ed
Thanks for your emails.
I've now discussed this with colleagues on the international desk, and we think you make a good point.
We are discussing how we might better describe the numbers killed on October 7, and will look to reflect that in future articles.
Kind regards,
Richard Best
Original complaint:
Hi, This is yet another email to The Independent on this issue. Why does The Independent, in numerous reports, state as fact, or allow to stand as fact, the claim that Hamas killed 1,200 people on October 7th, 2023? Anyone with the slightest knowledge of what happened that day, knows that this is patently false and that Israel is directly responsible for part of that 1,200 figure. Even top Israeli officials and the Israeli media itself, admits this is the case and in addition, have made frequent references to the "Hannibal Directive", which I am sure you are familiar with. References to it in the UK msm are, however, as rare as hen's teeth...why is that? For example, just today again, in the report: "UN Security Council To Vote On Gaza Ceasefire Resolution Amid Humanitarian Crisis" (link below), we have this:
"Hamas-led militants killed around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took 251 people hostage in the Oct. 7, 2023".
Not even one caveat to say at the very least, this figure of deaths directly attributed to Hamas on that day is disputed. At a time when the daily atrocities committed in Gaza are regularly defended and excused because of what happened on October 7th, shouldn't it be a top priority to mention this and stop the endless repetition of this misleading canard?
Come on, this has been going on for almost 20 months now...isn't it time to tell the truth about Israel's own contribution to the 1,200 deaths that day?
Kudos if you make them change their wording, but it's the sort of thing that would need long, careful, repetitive explanation to counter the narrative that they've created, and they're never going to do that. It'll be some arse-covering phrase that means they're not technically lying but no regular member of the public will notice or change their mind as a result.
No problem Ian. In the good old days I was forever writing emails but even back then I knew the main reason I did was as a form of catharsis...a kind of swipe at whoever read them saying you aren't fooling everyone with your lies and omissions. Helped keep me sane! Of course, any "victory" would be nice but too long in the tooth these days to ever expect one. Still, one can dream! "I won't dignify the attacker's words by repeating them, they are horrific and vile."
I admire you taking action even if I agree somewhat with Ian above
However, forcing them to actually reply and to formulate a reply in some way nudges them towards the truth and these days Christ knows we have to celebrate small victories.The corporate media are complicit in the Gaza genocide. Never forget what they did. Never forgive them for it.
Re: Finally got a reply from The Independent about the "Hamas killed 1,200 on Oct 7th" bollox...
they hide behind the BS of verified, context the World Unspun which they sell to the public like washing powder
thanks for all the responses.
as far as our msm is concerned the Hannibal directive doesn't exist."The powerful aren't afraid of us hating them, it's when we stop hating each other that they're afraid"
on June 4, 2025, 7:07 pm