BBC Cuts Short Interview With Palestinian Doctor Describing Baby Killed In Bombing
A BBC interview with Doctor Mustafa Barghouti was cut short Wednesday morning as the physician protested the killing of Gazan civilians, citing the story of a one day old child killed whose death certificate was issued before his birth certificate.
The interview came one day after Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) bombed Jabalia refugee camp killing at least 50 people, according to local officials.
The IDF reported that they aimed at the camp specifically to target Ibrahim Biari, a prominent Hamas leader associated with the 7 October assault on Israel. They allege he and his militants had occupied civilian structures in Gaza City.
During the conversation journalist Anna Foster, live from southern Israel, posed a question regarding the Israeli claim that Hamas places their commanders and operatives in civilian areas, thereby using Palestinian civilians as human shields. She asked: “What would you say to that?”
Barghouti said: “First of all, I say this is a big lie to justify killing civilians. And let’s remember, suppose somebody took civilians as hostages, you don’t just go and kill all the hostages. It’s not true. This is what they say as justification of the bombardment that is happening in Gaza. I was in Gaza, they did kill a Hamas operative, though he wasn’t in a civilian area. Hamas denied that. I don’t know exactly what is the truth, but even if they killed a Hamas leader, that doesn’t justify killing with him and 400 people, including 200 children. Is that a standard that should be followed?”
Foster attempted to interrupt the doctor.
“The thing that broke my heart is the case of Udayy Abu Mohsen, a one day old child who was killed in the bombardment and his death certificate was issued before his birth certificate,” Barghouti said.
He continued: “The Palestinian children at the scenes, Palestinian children are killed everywhere. You use six rockets, each of which is 1,000 kilograms, to bombard a whole neighbourhood in Jabalia camp full of refugees to justify killing one person from Hamas. That is unacceptable.”
At this point, Foster abruptly cut in to end the interview.
“Thank you for… I don’t want to cut you off in your prime, Doctor Mustafa. Thank you so much for joining us, but I really…” she said. “Doctor, thank you for joining us and I think you know we’ve made that point and you’ve made your point very, very strongly.”
Since the bombing of the refugee camp occurred, other prominent Western commentators, including Piers Morgan, have protested the excusing of collateral killing of civilians in order to eliminate Hamas targets:
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