UPI belatedly admits: Hamas attacked Kerem Shalom border crossing

Just hours after Hamas terrorists in the Gaza Strip fired about 10 rockets at the Kerem Shalom border crossing between Israel and the Gaza Strip, Adam Schrader of United Press International published an article about the humanitarian needs facing Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and pushed all blame on Israel (“Almost…”) 35,000 Palestinians die as Gaza faces famine and sanitation crisis.

Without saying a single word about the deadly Hamas attack, in which the terrorist organization killed four soldiers and injured at least eight others near the border crossing on the same day, Schrader emphasized: “Because of Israel’s actions, the Palestinians are facing famine and sanitation crises confronts “In the Middle of War,” citing alleged Israeli responsibility for “blocking, delaying and restricting vital supplies.”

Hamas is manipulating the humanitarian situation to further its terrorist goals.

Not only did Hamas fire 10 rockets at Kerem Shalom – the main relief crossing – but it also did so approximately 350 meters from civilian shelters.

Hamas systematically exploits humanitarian facilities and… pic.twitter.com/FgkuNBqZHK

– COGAT (@cogatonline) May 5, 2024

Contrary to usual journalistic norms, Schrader did not record a single Israeli Answer to the allegations from Doctors Without Borders, the World Food Program and the scandalous UNRWA, which accuse Israel of being solely responsible for the humanitarian needs in the Gaza Strip.

Meanwhile, a separate UPI article the next day addressed events at the Kerem Shalom border crossing, but misreported its location and still ignored Hamas’ deadly attack (“Israel attacks targets in Rafah, says Hamas accepted.” “The ceasefire agreement is inadequate.” Reporters Paul Godfrey and Don Jacobson were wrong: “Washington said Netanyahu agreed to make it happen.” Kerem Shalom border crossing in the northern Gaza Strip remains open to humanitarian assistance to those in need.” (Emphasis added.)

The Kerem Shalom border crossing is in the southern Gaza Strip, next to Rafah, not in the northern Gaza Strip. CAMERA reached out to UPI to inform the editorial board of the geographical error and to point out that the Kerem Shalom border crossing was closed on Sunday when Hamas fired 10 rockets at it, killing four Israeli soldiers and wounding at least eight others. Hamas claimed responsibility for this deadly attack, something UPI has not yet admitted.

Top LR: Sgt. Michael Ruzal and Staff Sgt. Ruben Marc Mordechai Assouline; Bottom left: Staff Sgt. Ido Testa and Staff Sgt. Tal Shavit, killed in a Hamas rocket attack near Kerem Shalom, May 5, 2024. (Courtesy Times of Israel)

To their credit, UPI editors promptly amended yesterday’s article by Godfrey and Jacobson, correcting Kerem Shalom’s location and reporting for the first time on the Hamas attack on the border crossing a day earlier. The changed text now reflects exactly the following:

Washington said Netanyahu had agreed to ensure that the Kerem Shalom border crossing in southern Gaza remained open for humanitarian assistance to those in need.

The border crossing was closed after four Israeli soldiers were killed and 10 others injured in a rocket attack that Hamas claimed responsibility for.

Hamas’ attack on Kerem Shalom on May 5 brings the total number of Israeli military deaths from the ground attack against Hamas to 267, a number that UPI does not report. Regarding Hamas’s dubious death toll on the Gaza side, UPI reports:

The current numbers Research by the Hamas-run Health Ministry in Gaza shows that 29 Palestinians were killed and 110 injured in the 24 hours to Sunday, bringing the total number of people killed since the current conflict began in October to 34,683 and another 78,018 injured.