ABC News tells viewers that scenes of destruction in Gaza are in Israel

Rania Khalek Media Watch 9 July 2014

Update, Thursday, 10 July:

Diane Sawyer tweeted the following apology today:

Original post:

More than fifty Palestinians have been killed and another 450 wounded since Monday in Israel’s ongoing assault on the besieged Gaza Strip, dubbed “Operation Protective Edge” by the Israeli army. 

As usual, mainstream media outlets are straining to paint Israel as the victim, defending its people against irrational Palestinian rocket fire.

There is no equating the killing and maiming of dozens of innocent Palestinians with scared Israelis seeking shelter from crude rockets that rarely cause damage. But that hasn’t stopped media outlets from trying, and in some cases, outright lying, to distort the violence. 

In one stark example, ABC News’ Diane Sawyer misidentifies scenes of the aftermath of Israeli missile strikes in Gaza as destruction caused by Palestinian rocket fire.

As Sawyer segues into the segment, she says, “We take you overseas now to the rockets raining down on Israel today as Israel tried to shoot them out of the sky.” Next to her is video footage not of Israelis or even Israel, but of Israeli airstrikes on Gaza.

Sawyer then incorrectly describes an image of a Palestinian family gathering belongings in the smoking debris of a missile-hit home in Gaza as “an Israeli family trying to salvage what they can.” 

Screenshot of ABC News image mislabeled as “an Israeli family trying to salvage what they can.”

Sawyer then describes an image of a Palestinian woman surrounded by destroyed homes as “one woman standing speechless among the ruins,” with the implication that she is Israeli. 

Sawyer’s bald misreporting reflects either a deliberate lie by ABC News or willful ignorance so severe that Palestinian death and misery is invisible even when it’s staring ABC producers right in the face.

The segment in its entirety can be seen here. 

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Comments

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Susie replied on

ABC news stop switching words and telling lies!!!.... Those are not Israelis families ok!!... Those are poor innocent Palestinians that lives in Gaza!!!!!

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Marion replied on

"By way of deception we shall make war"...well, can't say they didn't give us ample warning...so, I don't believe a damned thing they say.

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Free palestine replied on

Just for 3 jews, palestine is bombed innocent people are not even left out. It's not for vengeance, rather it's a war on islam. They have been taking the land unlawfully and they been prosecuting them this is not democracy rather this is oppression. Victory is with the muslims!

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Mystic replied on

Typical anti Jewish response. It's the same attitude that lead hitler to try and destroy them. It failed then and will sail now. If Palestinians want supplies and such then why must it be from Israel who they hate and not Egypt which is also a Muslim country? Hamas and the PLO are nothing but terrorist and the people who choose terrorist as their government are terrorist in my book.

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your an idiot replied on

Why are Jews taking over a country that is not theirs... why should Palestine not seek aid from its OWN land, why Egypt??
Stop being pathetic. .. you just support hidden terrorists the Israeli govt.. just because the media says they are clean. .

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Anti-Hasbara replied on

Typical ZioNazi Hasbara response. Your propaganda doesn't work here. Israel are a full blown rogue terrorist state and Zionism's time is coming to an end. The world is watching you Israel apoligists lies under a microscope.

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truth replied on

The only terrorist here is the Israeli government so acorrding to ur logic ur a terrorist. The Israeli government continues to steal land and murder Palestinian people while the international community watches. In the future this genocide will be recognized but it will be too late just like withthe native americans. And super patriots for israel like u wold be to blame

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Carl Buehler replied on

There is no military solution here. Only political whereby Palestinians are provided economic opportunity in which people can thrive, not feel imprisoned,and NOT be induced by Hamas (or any group) to resort to violence.
The Gaza Strip is infamously known as one of the most densely populated areas in the world. While majority of people in Gaza live close to or below the poverty line, the unemployment rate in the Strip stands near 40 percent.
According to the World Bank, a report released in November ranks the Gaza Strip as third in the Arab world in terms of poverty, coming above Sudan and Yemen. Gaza also ranks the 44th poorest region in the world, with most African countries having a higher poverty rate than Gaza.
By destroying the Palestinian economic infrastructure, destroying the water and electric utilities, bombing schools and hospitals, reducing tens of thousands of homes to ruble, Israel is going the wrong way. If the strategy there is to exterminate Gaza and drive the Palestinians out, where will they go? How will they feed and cloth themselves? And where will they work? Idle hands are the work of the devil. These people need economic opportunity. Work, a job, a sense of economic security, is satisfying and would give Palestinians hope. For Israel to try and keep killing them off like roaches ain't gonna work.

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jo replied on

you really show who you are by saying " Just for 3 Jews!!!! shows your mentality !

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The Rev. R. Don Prange replied on

That the atrocities of a 'holocaust' under the Nazis - and note the 'a' because other 'holocausts' have never been acknowledged, as in the massive genocide in the Americas by European colonial adventures - and as despicable as that Nazi 'holocaust' was, that a nation could come into being by playing on the guilt of modern-day colonialists, and now operates its own 'holocaust' over against a Palestinian people, is beyond all human comprehension. And that ABC would 'propagandize' this act, only magnifies its inherent evil!

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frances kawala replied on

People believe what they see on tv - it is disgraceful to misrepresent this on the news - they're expected to know the facts at least, if not the correct interpretation.

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Alan Bickley replied on

At no place in Israel are there acres of wreckage as we see in Gaza. An experienced eye discerns the difference quickly and confidently. Producers have - at a minimum - that capacity for instant discernment together with other tools that can confirm their judgement. Thus - in my view - the producers of Nightly Upchuck with Diane Chin-on-wrist Sawyer resolved to lie in the interest of swimming with the current, i.e., supporting AIPAC, Shin Bet, and 95% of the congress.

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william replied on

Dianne Sawyer's comment is not surprising at all. Fully 98% of Americans have no idea that there is U.S. media anymore, only propaganda outlets for Israel and a corrupt, cowardly U.S. govt.

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Anonymous replied on

First of all it's not Israel going through can't you see with your eyes it's Palestinian civilians are under attack by Israeli soldiers woman kids and old civilians are being killed in the name of freedom

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Imran Mukadam replied on

Its bad enought that those heartless Israeli pigs keep on killing our children but from a prominent news outlet to openely lie like that is absolutely unacceptable, bare in mind that Diane is just the messenger being told what to say, these mainstream media are all controlled by Israel and will do everything to justify their killings and oppression, we need to stand up to them as Humans as this isn't about religion anymore, its about humanity!

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ayan replied on

Wow!!! I get that you are bias and on the side of isreal but this is a whole new low.....shame on you A C and shame on you Diane. These are children being killed and you can't even give them a fair reporting? ????

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Kay replied on

How dare you, Diane Sawyer?!! Gaza and the Palestinian people are under attack here! Outrageous that you paint Israel as the victim when it is obvious who is being attacked here. Let's report the facts, ABC news.

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Nf replied on

Diane sawyer you need to be sued for falsely reporting news. If I was you I would promptly apologize and CORRECT your "mistake" as I would like to give you the benefit of being a horrible reporter who just READS what is placed infront of her. Sleep tight thinking about the lawsuit ABC

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Michelle replied on

In their weak apology via Twitter they said they would fix it (replace) it. That is what you are looking at.

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Anonymous replied on

It's very clear the article you linked is in favor if Israel. "...as more Israeli cities are being targeted..." just one example out of many.

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Anonymous replied on

how dare you say that Gaza is attacking Israel the people there barley got enough to pass the day. and how dare you show Palestinian families that are in need and that have been painfully hurt by Israeli attacks and say "this are Israeli families"
this is completely BS

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Anonymous replied on

Why aren't you calling Isreal "terrorist" coz u can clearly see who's the oppressor!!! So quick to call Muslims "terrorist" which you people have brainwashed your viwers in believing.

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Jasmin replied on

Stop Lying and twisting everything, Poor Palestinian innocent People are being killed by Israel. The least You can do is say it how it is. ABC you disgust me Don't You dare try and justify Murderers. Israel day in day out are killing the Palestinian's. FREE PALESTINE STOP THIS GENOCIDE, ZIONIST REGIME.

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maggie replied on

Thank you for this post as reply. This is a very effective and helpful post. Everyone should complain to ABC and use twitter and any form of social media to spread this information.

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Michelle replied on

I just received feedback from contacting ABC news demanding an apology on air. It was as glossed over as their flimsy apology on twitter and facebook. Still they refused to give it as much merit as it deserved and still claimed that Isreal was being bombed by Gaza in that news broadcast. It was only about bombing in Gaza. What a joke!

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Naser jouhari replied on

STOP!!!! THIS IS BS! CHEATING THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. THIS IS WRONG SHAME ON YOU

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Ali replied on

very sad that media portray things like this, definitely shows a bias. Ms. Sawyer is a respected journalist and seems that she is used to brainwashing Americans with these kind of reports. This puts her reputation at stake and I hope that she rectifies her position.

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Majd Abbar replied on

For such a seasoned newsperson, this can only be an intentional misrepresentation of the facts. If not, then her apology needs to be public and as impactful as the issue at hand. A new low for the bias of US media...

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Apology replied on

Seriously you guys owe a massive apology to all of the victims of Palestine for calling them such a shameful word! Pathetic!

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Optimist replied on

Unbelievable! Just when we thought they couldn't be more biased they are taking their lies and deceptive reporting a higher level!!

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Mike najam replied on

I give Diane the benefit of the doubt that she did not mean to give fals info and she made a mistake but if so I expect her to apologize and make a correction on that matter

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Muhammad Rahman replied on

Thank God she's retiring! Maybe Fox News gave her their notes! Only trustable coverage is from Al-jazeera USA and RT News. Western countries need to wake up n give that war criminal Netanyahu a call n tell him enough is ENOUGH!

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Mariam replied on

Shame on you ABC news for false reporting. The Audience are not gullible fools to believe your deception. We've got other forms of media telling us the TRUTH that is injustice done by ISRAEL. Peace for Palestine, end their suffering. Down with ABC, Down with ISRAEL

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Sylvia Flefel replied on

first Gaza is not Israel enough they have more twothirds of palestine so called Israel.Gaza annnnd the west bank is occupied by Israel since 67 i am sure you know that and since then the palestinians are going through the worst barbaric behaviour and when they try to defend themselves with the simplest way against all these amuniion israel has they call hem terrorist i always respect you and admire you but from your point of you in the palestinian cause wake up and dont go with ABc opinion which always prejudice towards the palestinian people.

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Amelia replied on

Shame on you Diane i use to love your news that is just toomuch until when you gona lie this people we all know the true God help Palestinian people

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Farah replied on

ABC News you are screwed forever for your unprofessional and unreliable info. Screw you for supporting Israel. Israel who is ATTACKING GAZA and not the way around!!!... STOP your brain washing with your false reports.

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Rania Khalek

Rania Khalek's picture

Rania Khalek is an independent journalist reporting on the underclass and marginalized.