Amit Segal

@amitsegal · Twitter · 2025-06-01 11:13 UTC

False reports spread like wildfire this morning that the IDF killed over 30 Gazans at one of the new aid distribution centers in the strip. Let’s break down what the media reported, what the IDF did—and didn’t say—and what actually happened. Quoting the Palestine Red Crescent Society, CNN wrote: “‘Crowds of citizens headed to receive food aid’” from a site in the Rafah area, when Israeli forces opened fire,” leaving at least 26 Palestinians dead. Ok, and where did the number come from? Hamas—as it always does. Speaking to the AFP, Hamas spokesman Mahmud Bassal said: “The number of martyrs from the massacre at the American aid center in Rafah has risen to at least 22, with more than 120 wounded, including children.” As of writing, Hamas has raised the number to 31. And the media ran with it—because why question Hamas when you can blame the Jews? There’s just one problem: Security camera footage from the aid distribution site at the time of the alleged massacre was released. Watch it for yourself in the reply to this post: You’ll see no shooting and no injures. IDF soldiers in the area also made clear: Not only was there no shooting, but they were prohibited from firing at armed men near the Salah a-Din Highway—because there were thousands of Gazans in their vicinity. And there’s another problem: The IDF responded to the accusations, but only five hours after reports of the massacre—which were spread by the world’s largest media outlets—first surfaced. What did the military say? “At this time, we are unaware of injuries caused by IDF troops’ fire within the [humanitarian aid] distribution site,” adding that “the matter is still under review.” While such delays are often due to ensuring the correct procedures take place—not incompetence—not for the first time in this war, the IDF has responded to grave accusations that carry international implications with too little, too late.