Fact Check: Hamas killed 40 babies

Fact Check: "Hamas killed 40 babies"

What We Know

The claim that Hamas killed and beheaded 40 babies during the incursion into southern Israel on October 7, 2023, has been widely circulated but is fundamentally unfounded. Initial reports of these atrocities emerged from testimonies by Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers and civilian rescue group members shortly after the attack on the kibbutz of Kfar Aza. These allegations were further propagated by high-profile figures, including then-US President Joe Biden and Israeli officials, leading to extensive media coverage (Wikipedia).

However, subsequent investigations revealed that only one victim identified from the violence on that day was a baby—a 10-month-old girl who was shot (Wikipedia). The claims of beheaded infants and other gruesome acts were later described as a "hoax" and attributed to a mix of miscommunication, sensationalism, and unverified testimonies from untrained individuals (Wikipedia).

Reports from credible sources, including Le Monde, indicated that the rumors originated from a chaotic press tour shortly after the attack, where journalists noted that no mention of dead babies was made by military officials, and all bodies were in adult-sized bags. The reliability of the testimonies from reservists and civilian volunteers was also questioned, as they may have confused information from different sites of violence (Wikipedia).

Analysis

The claim that Hamas killed 40 babies appears to be a product of misinformation and sensational reporting rather than verified fact. The initial reports were based on testimonies that lacked corroboration and were disseminated without adequate verification by media outlets. For instance, the Israeli Prime Minister's Office and various media channels repeated these claims as established facts, despite the IDF later stating that the testimonies remained unconfirmed (Wikipedia).

The credibility of the sources that propagated the claim is questionable. Many were either military personnel or civilian volunteers lacking forensic training, which raises concerns about their ability to accurately assess the situation (Wikipedia). Furthermore, the chaotic environment during the aftermath of the attack likely contributed to the spread of rumors and misinformation.

As the situation unfolded, some media outlets began to retract or clarify their earlier reports. For example, CNN's Sara Sidner later apologized for taking the Israeli spokesperson's claims at face value (Wikipedia). This indicates a recognition of the potential harm caused by unverified claims in a highly sensitive context.

Conclusion

The claim that Hamas killed 40 babies is False. It is based on unverified testimonies and has been widely discredited by subsequent investigations. The initial reports were a mix of miscommunication and sensationalism, lacking factual support. The only confirmed infant casualty from the events of October 7 was a 10-month-old girl who was shot, contradicting the more extreme allegations that circulated in the days following the attack.

Fact Check: Hamas killed 40 babies