Multiple papers correct misleading coverage of Gaza hostage releases

Then, during the BBC’s live coverage of living hostages returning to Israel in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners and detainees, Chief Political Correspondent Henry Zeffman referred to the swap as a “hostage exchange”. 

Following criticism, Zeffman later said he had been discussing the “release of the hostages by Hamas to the International Committee of the Red Cross” but did not clarify why he used the word “exchange” in that case.

The BBC also aired an interview with Palestinian Aida Abu al-Rub, the sister of imprisoned terrorist Murad Abu al-Rub, who was involved in the Kedumim West Bank bombing, which killed four Israelis in March 2006. The BBC failed to mention that he was a convicted terrorist in the interview.

Later, a BBC spokesperson said: “It was made clear that the prisoner had been serving four life sentences. The interview with his sister was in the context of Israel’s release of hundreds of prisoners as part of the ceasefire agreement and its impact on their families and communities.”

In the US, the New York Times also called the process the "exchange of hostages between Israel and Hamas" in a picture caption on its front page. This caption was not used on the paper’s website but appeared in the print edition.

Elsewhere, CNN's Christiane Amanpour said of the hostages: “It’s been a terrible, terrible two years for them, because not only are they there – you know, they’re probably being treated better than the average Gazan, because they are the pawns and the chips that Hamas had."

She later said she "regretted" making the comment.

On Tuesday, The Guardian published another article with the headline: "Families gather as Hamas releases list of detainees leaving Gaza," using the word "detainees" as opposed to "hostages". The outlet promptly changed the wording of its headline.

In Israel, two news outlets have issued corrections over the last week - both Haaretz and The Jerusalem Post referred to the "hostages" as "prisoners".

And, on Wednesday, the BBC aired an interview with guest Dr. Khaled Dawas who said that the returning Palestinian prisoners were "fighting occupation". Many of these returning prisoners are convicted terrorists serving multiple life sentences. 

Also on Wednesday, a presenter on BBC Radio 4's Six O'clock News said: "Under the deal aid can flood in to fight the famine caused by Israel restricting supplies.”

This claim was presented as fact without citation. A UN report identifying the presence of famine in Gaza has been widely criticised over the alleged bias of its authors, including one who previously suggested that Jews controlled social media. Israel has also described the UN report as an “outright lie”, claiming it is based on unreliable data. This was not mentioned in the BBC coverage.