New York Times report under fire for questioning whether Israelis were true victims of Oct 7 terror attack, tell me about this news in (https://www.foxnews.com/media/new-york-times-report-under-fire-questioning-whether-israelis-were-true-victims-oct-7-terror-attack)
16-09-2026
The Fox News report covers backlash directed at The New York Times over a specific line in an article written by its Jerusalem-based reporter, Isabel Kershner. The Times piece focused on a documentary detailing the deaths of Palestinians by Israeli military forces in Gaza.
Key Details of the ControversyThe Statement in Question: While discussing domestic Israeli debates regarding intelligence and military failures leading up to the attack, the Times article stated: “But Israelis still largely view themselves as the victims of Oct. 7.”
The Backlash: Critics, commentators, and media observers argued that the sentence inappropriately treated an objective historical realitythat Israeli civilians were the targets and victims of the Hamas-led massacre on October 7, 2023as merely a subjective viewpoint or Israeli perception.
Notable Reactions:
Independent journalist and former IDF soldier Eitan Fischberger called the phrasing “grotesque,” arguing it framed an undisputed fact as a “victimhood mentality.” He compared it to writing that Americans “still largely view themselves as the victims of 9/11” or the attack on Pearl Harbor.
Conservative commentator Scott Jennings and numerous social media users condemned the line, questioning how anyone could imply Israelis were not the victims of an attack in which roughly 1,200 people were killed and more than 250 taken hostage.
Broader Context Cited in the Report:
The article referenced an earlier study by Edieal Pinker of the Yale School of Management, which argued that early Times coverage showed bias against Israela claim The New York Times previously disputed, maintaining that its reporting adheres to independent, evidence-based journalism.
The report also noted separate criticism the Times received around the anniversary of September 11 for articles highlighting the rise of Islamophobia following the 2001 attacks, which critics similarly argued displaced focus from the direct victims.