Biden's lie was one catalyst for Israeli continuous atrocities in Gaza
In the wake of the October 7, 2023, attack by Hamas on Israel, a shocking claim emerged that Hamas militants had beheaded 40 babies. This allegation quickly gained traction and was amplified by various officials, including U.S. President Joe Biden. However, as investigations unfolded, it became clear that the claim was not substantiated.
Origin of the Claim
The assertion that Hamas beheaded infants originated from comments made by Israeli reporter Nicole Zedeck of i24 News on October 10. During a live broadcast from Kibbutz Kfar Aza, she reported that Israeli soldiers had witnessed horrific scenes, including decapitated infants.
Zedeck stated that soldiers claimed to have seen "babies, their heads cut off," and later suggested that they believed around 40 babies had been killed in the attack.
These statements were not explicitly confirmed by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) but were widely interpreted as credible reports of atrocities committed by Hamas.
Biden's Response
On October 11, President Biden addressed a roundtable with Jewish community leaders and referenced the disturbing claims. He stated:
I never really thought that I would see… have confirmed pictures of terrorists beheading children.
His remarks were intended to convey the horror of the attacks and to emphasize U.S. support for Israel during the conflict. However, Biden's statement raised immediate questions about its veracity.
Following his comments, the White House clarified that neither Biden nor his aides had seen any photographic evidence of such beheadings. Instead, they indicated that Biden was referring to reports from Israeli officials and media outlets. This clarification highlighted a significant gap between Biden's dramatic assertion and the reality of the situation.
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Investigations and Clarifications
As the days progressed, skepticism surrounding the claim grew. An Israeli official later stated that while there had been instances of beheadings attributed to Hamas militants in previous conflicts, they could not confirm if any victims from this particular incident were children or infants.
The IGF also refrained from confirming specific details regarding decapitated infants. On October 12, Biden’s comments were further scrutinized when it was revealed that many media outlets had reported on unverified claims without sufficient corroboration. Major news organizations like CNN and NBC News reported that while violence against children had occurred during the attack, the specific allegation of mass beheadings remained unverified.
Media Amplification
The claim about beheaded babies was not only propagated by political leaders but also gained traction across social media platforms and mainstream news outlets. Various politicians and commentators echoed the narrative without verifying its accuracy.
This led to a widespread dissemination of misinformation, which contributed to accepting the Israeli atrocities on Gaza by the Western public.
The claim that Hamas beheaded 40 babies serves as a poignant example of how misinformation can rapidly spread in times of conflict. President Biden's initial endorsement of this narrative highlighted the challenges leaders face in addressing complex situations where information is often fluid and unverified. As investigations continued, it became evident that while atrocities were committed during the attacks, specific claims about beheadings lacked substantiation. This incident underscores the importance of critical evaluation and verification in reporting during crises to prevent further escalation of misinformation and its potential consequences on public perception and policy decisions.
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Disclaimer: This text was written with the aid of AI tools.