The New York Times Apologizes . . . Sort Of
Editors’ Note: Israeli Puppy Daycare Bombing
The New York Times
Nov. 15, 2023
The New York Times recently reported on an explosion at the Qasin Jalila Puppy Daycare Center in Gaza City, relying solely on one source, the Hamas Ministry of Lies and Misinformation, which claimed an Israeli bunker-busting bomb instantly vaporized 5,000 adorable, yapping puppies. The initial article included a banner headline at the top of The Times’s website that read “Bloodthirsty Jews Murder Newborn Puppies.”
Israel predictably denied the charge, with an Israeli Defense Force (IDF) spokesman saying Hamas terrorists deliberately rigged the puppy daycare center with 500 tons of TNT, detonating it with the sole purpose of using a supine media to draw worldwide scorn against the Jewish state. Soon after, American, Israeli, and international officials, along with logic and common sense, said all evidence pointed to Hamas being responsible, citing Hamas-released audio recordings (e.g., “Douse the puppies with gasoline so the fireball will be huge!”), building schematics with crude drawings of where the TNT should be placed, and a TikTok video of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh cackling while pushing the plunger on a Looney Tunes-style TNT detonator, followed by a massive explosion and a cacophony of agonizing dog yowls. (READ MORE from Matt Manochio: An Open Letter From a Contrite Harvard Professor)
The Times immediately expressed skepticism of the evidence presented by the Israeli Bureau of Truth and Responsibility, with Times freelancer Soliman Hijjy — who has maintained high journalistic standards despite idolizing Adolf Hitler on Twitter — telling editors that the Israeli-provided evidence could have been fabricated.
The New York Times is the newspaper of record for a reason — we have a bunch of Pulitzer Prizes.
However, in retrospect, the Times’s initial accounts relied too heavily on the words of one Hamas spokesman, Zeke, an African Grey parrot trained by Hamas to answer reporters’ questions with succinct remarks (e.g., “Jews bomb doggies, squawk! Jews bomb doggies, squawk!”). The Times, which prides itself on balance, took care to mention on page F24 that Israeli officials proclaimed innocence and were investigating the blast.
Regardless, the Times’s early coverage failed to substantiate Hamas’s claims, which were heavily promoted in headlines, news alerts, and social media channels, and amplified by MSNBC, CNN, Al-Jazeera, the Squad, and every Middle Eastern dictatorship. The Times reporter tried asking the keffiyeh-clad parrot, even after coaxing him multiple times with figs, how it knew 5,000 puppies were killed so soon after the blast, what physical evidence could Hamas provide that pointed to Israeli munitions, and why should Times editors and readers believe the words of a bird that cannot critically think, but merely repeats whatever it is told to say, essentially parroting Hamas’s claims. To which Zeke replied, “You want to believe it. Brap! You want to believe it. Brap!”
The Times updated its coverage throughout the day, begrudgingly reporting on the mounting pile of evidence pointing to Hamas uncharacteristically lying to media outlets that seek nothing but truth. Further investigation by Times reporters on the scene indicated that only a few dozen stray dogs — and not 5,000 puppies — were crammed into the doomed building.
Within five days, all subsequent Times headlines and stories reflected Hamas’s alleged deception and the dispute over responsibility. The Times continues to scour all video evidence available that would point away from Hamas and toward Israel as being the bombers, but so far cannot definitively state that Israel is guilty.
The Times commits itself to providing the best possible narrative our readers expect to believe. The paper’s initial presentation checked every box of what Times editors are inclined to think regarding Israel’s disdain for innocent life. So, in that sense, the paper successfully presented a narrative that instantly poisoned any goodwill toward Israel. Still, even the Times cannot ignore supposed facts that ruin narratives, and the paper will not hesitate that long to ensure the truth is told. (READ MORE: New York Times Acknowledges Problems in Its Reporting on Israel–Hamas War)
Despite war being unpredictable and fast-moving, this is not an excuse to produce poor journalism. The Times will ensure better coverage in the future and not be so trusting of people that murder innocent women, children, and grandmothers. We also will be less trusting of Hamas, beginning with our reporters refusing to accept information from any source that has a beak.
The New York Times is the newspaper of record for a reason — we have a bunch of Pulitzer Prizes. We expect to win a lot more for our impeccable coverage of Israel’s aggression toward innocent Palestinians. We can only do that by ensuring truth, integrity and honesty are — wait, what was that? Hamas is saying Israel bombed a Gazan ice cream parlor that was hosting a birthday party for 5,000 children? Incredible! Banner headline, right away, “Israel hates Ice Cream and Children.”
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