The BBC has defended Mishal Husain after she was accused of being ‘pro-Palestinian reporter of the year’ on air by an Israeli government spokesman.
David Mencer attacked the Today programme presenter after she questioned him over claims the IDF had killed women and children in a raid on a school.
He said he was ‘extremely sceptical about pseudo medical staff’ who had ‘inflated’ casualty figures stating the operation was precise and targeted.
When pushed further on how many civilians the Israelis believe had died, Mencer claimed that 19 terrorists were killed and ‘there were no women and children present’.
The BBC has defended Mishal Hussain after she was branded ‘pro-Palestinian reporter of the year’ by an Israeli government spokesperson
David Mencer attacked the Today programme presenter, saying he was ‘extremely sceptical about pseudo medical staff’ who had ‘inflated’ casualty figures
Palestinians searching for victims following an Israeli strike in which nearly 100 people died, according to the Hamas run health ministry
This goes against medics on the ground for the Hamas run health ministry who say nearly 100 people died.
Mencer raged that Husain would win the ‘award’ for most pro-Palestinian reporter as she was ‘blindly repeating what terrorist organisations… feed you’.
He added: ‘You producing reports on this war one-sidedly, without context, ends up with attacks on Jews on the streets of Britain.
‘It ends up with cars going up the Finchley Road saying: ‘Jews, we’re going to rape your daughters.’ ‘
The Hamas run health ministry is the only body able to provide data on deaths in Gaza.
While there is scepticism over the figures, in previous conflicts post war analysis has found their numbers to be accurate.
The IDF has also previously reviewed the names and IDs of the dead provided by Gaza hospitals in this conflict and confirmed around 70 to 80 per cent are valid.
A BBC spokesman said: ‘As the listener could hear, Mishal Husain was asking legitimate and important questions in a professional, fair and courteous manner.’