The lie goes all the way around the world before the truth gets it boots on

Daniel Finkelstein flags up that the United Nations Relief and Works Agency have now ‘clarified’ that Israeli shells did not hit one of its schools in Gaza. So, one of the supposed ‘facts’ used by those–including the UN Secretary-General (pictured)–who argued that Israel was being careless about the impact its military operation was having on civilians turns out not to be a fact at all. Although, it is, obviously, still tragic that innocent people died regardless of where they were located.

As Melanie pointed out when doubts were first raised about this incident, a false version of events—a version that some UNWRA employees must have known was false—was allowed to spread through the media and “whip up an eruption of hatred and violence towards Israel”. Somehow I doubt that those media organisations that were so keen to report the original, false allegation will be equally keen to point out the truth now that it has come out.