THE former director of Labour Friends for Israel (LFI) has been slammed for claiming that images of people burning alive in Gaza had been “fabricated”.
It comes after an Israeli air strike on a hospital courtyard in the Gaza Strip killed at least four people and left more than two dozen others with severe burns after fire swept through a tent camp for people displaced by the war.
The Israeli military said it had targeted militants hiding out among civilians, without providing evidence.
Images and videos of the aftermath of the strike went viral, leading to widespread condemnation.
A video shared by Al Jazeera showed people in the flames as others shouted: “The people are on fire.”
In a statement on Monday, the UN’s Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) said: “Another night of horror in the Gaza Strip.”
One of those killed was later revealed to have been 19-year-old software engineering student Shaban al-Dalou.
But when David Mencer – who ran LFI for 6 years until 2004 and who is now a spokesman for Israel – was asked on LBC about the attack, he claimed it was “fabricated” (below).
'There is a movement of fabrication of events within the Palestinian authority.' Israeli government spokesman David Mencer dismisses reports of an Israeli airstrike burning tents at a Gaza hospital, telling @BenKentish the story has been 'fabricated to spark global outrage'. pic.twitter.com/CYfyZq5JO5
— LBC (@LBC) October 17, 2024
After a very heated back and forth with LBC’s Ben Kentish where Mencer called into question the journalist’s professionalism, the Israeli spokesperson claimed there is a “movement of fabrication of these sorts of events” within the Palestinian Authority and Gaza.
“This story in particular, I have seen with my own eyes evidence of this being fabricated, of models being used, of these sorts of stories being created, fabricated so that it will encourage world outrage,” he said.
Mencer added: “Innocent people being killed in Gaza is horrendous. Nobody wants it. But let's be absolutely clear, the person responsible for their death was killed. His name was Yahya Sinwar.”
Mencer’s comments and claims the images of burning Gazans was “fabricated” was condemned on social media.
“I listened to this live. I am actually amazed how the Israeli spokesman can lie so easily. I believe the NYT has verified it separately as well. Lying is one thing, lying about a dead 19-year old is another,” said one user.
This is the former director of Labour Friends of Israel. Here he’s suggesting that patients burning to death at a hospital after an Israeli missile strike was fabricated. People like him are not just still in Labour - they’re in No. 10. https://t.co/0kmvYBCFJz
— Owen Jones (@owenjonesjourno) October 18, 2024
Journalist Owen Jones added (above): “This is the former director of Labour Friends of Israel.
“Here he’s suggesting that patients burning to death at a hospital after an Israeli missile strike was fabricated.
“People like him are not just still in Labour - they’re in No. 10.”
