The outlet acknowledged it failed to give proper weight to the Israeli denial and admitted that the report fell short of its own journalistic standards.

The original post echoed claims made by Hamas-linked sources, which alleged that the IDF was responsible for a deadly incident in central Gaza. However, subsequent investigations — including evidence presented by the IDF and independent analysts — pointed to the high probability that the explosion was caused by a misfired rocket from within Gaza, not by Israeli fire.

This incident is part of a broader pattern in which major international outlets have circulated claims from Palestinian factions, especially Hamas, without sufficient verification. The Post’s retraction comes amid growing pressure on Western media to reassess its reliance on Gaza-based sources, many of which have been shown to distort or fabricate information for propaganda purposes.

Israeli officials welcomed the correction but criticized the damage already done. “Once again, a respected media outlet was quick to blame Israel based on terrorist propaganda. These errors cost lives and inflame tensions,” said a senior Israeli spokesperson.

This is not the first time the Washington Post or other major media organizations have had to walk back claims that were later disproven.

A similar incident occurred in October 2023, when multiple outlets wrongly blamed Israel for an explosion at Al-Ahli hospital in Gaza. It was later shown to have been caused by a failed rocket launched by Palestinian Islamic Jihad.

As misinformation spreads quickly during wartime, critics are calling for more rigorous editorial oversight and skepticism toward sources operating under Hamas control.