**BBC Stands Up to White House Criticisms Over Gaza Coverage**
The BBC has strongly rejected claims made by the White House that it had taken a story down or was biased in its reporting of events in Gaza. The criticism came during a press briefing on Tuesday, where President Trump’s Press Secretary, Karoline Leavitt, accused the BBC of taking “the word of Hamas” when reporting the number of victims in a shooting incident near an aid distribution site.
However, the BBC has responded by saying that its coverage was accurate and unbiased. In a statement, the corporation said: “The claim that the BBC removed a story after reviewing video is completely false.” It added that its journalists had thoroughly investigated the incident and updated their reports with new figures throughout the day – a practice it described as “totally standard” for fast-moving stories.
**Contradictory Reports Over Aid Center Shooting**
The controversy surrounds a shooting incident on Sunday near an aid distribution center in Rafah, Gaza. Civilians, NGOs, and health officials reported that people were shot while waiting to receive food at the site, but the Israeli military denied these claims, saying its troops had not fired at civilians within or near the site.
The BBC clarified that it had examined footage on Monday and found that a viral video posted on social media was not linked to the aid distribution center it claimed to show. This has led to confusion over what actually happened, with some reports suggesting that the shooting incident may have occurred elsewhere in Gaza.
**BBC Calls for Access to Gaza**
The BBC has also used this opportunity to highlight its call for access to Gaza for international journalists. The corporation said that it would welcome White House support in its efforts to secure immediate access to Gaza, where international journalists are currently not allowed. Israel launched a campaign in Gaza as a response to Hamas’ cross-border attack in October 2023, which resulted in the deaths of about 1,200 people and the taking hostage of 251 individuals.
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