The New York Times barely acknowledged major shortcomings in its reportage of the recent Gaza hospital explosion. The publication conceded Monday that its coverage of the blast required more diligence and less reliance on uncorroborated claims from Hamas. But its “clarification” left many journalistic sins intact and failed to accept the degree and the repercussions of its reporting,

The acknowledgment surfaced amid criticism over the newspaper’s hasty acceptance of Hamas’ version of events, prominently featured in its headline soon after the incident. The New York Times confessed that the editorial team should have exercised more caution in their initial reporting, ensuring a clearer distinction between confirmed information and unsubstantiated claims.

This episode revolved around the explosion at a medical facility in Gaza, initially reported as a mass casualty event resulting from an Israeli bomb, based only on statements from Hamas officials. However, the narrative evolved when Israel refuted these allegations, providing compelling evidence that the mishap was due to a failed rocket attack by the Islamic Jihad. This counterclaim garnered support from U.S. and other Western intelligence establishments. Leftist and Muslim groups still buy the bogus claim.

Despite presenting Israel’s counter-argument, The Times admitted that the prominence given to the unverified claims by Hamas in its initial coverage could have misled readers regarding the credibility of the information. The newspaper’s candid admission acknowledged that such a presentation could distort public perception.

Recognizing the evolving nature of the story, The New York Times emphasized its efforts to adjust the narrative, including updates on the contested allegations and potential inaccuracies in the death toll initially provided by Hamas. The publication maintained that subsequent modifications to the headlines and the story’s content were timely and more reflective of the situation’s ambiguity.

There was also the fact that the misfired missile hit a parking lot near the hospital, not the hospital itself. There has been no proof of mass casualties in the Palestinian attack on its own facility.