The former director-general of the Al Jazeera network, which is essentially a mouthpiece for the Qatar government which hosts the leaders of Hamas, admitted that a story on the site alleging IDF soldiers raped women near the Shifa Hospital complex was false.

The original story featured a woman from Gaza named Jamila Al-Hessi, who claimed that although she was not in the hospital, she had seen women being raped and killed by IDF soldiers. Her “testimony” subsequently went viral.

But Al Jazeera columnist and former director Yasser Abuhilalah tweeted, “It was revealed through Hamas investigations that the story of the rape of women in Al-Shifa Hospital was fabricated … The woman who spoke about rape justified her exaggeration and incorrect talk by saying that the goal was to arouse the nation’s fervor and brotherhood.”

Al Jazeera deleted the story from its page after it was up for over 24 hours, The Jerusalem Post reported. Jihad Khelles, a pro-Hamas preacher from Gaza, also tweeted there was no proof of Al-Hessi’s story.

IDF Arabic-language spokesman Avichay Adraee had already stated, “After they failed at everything else, Hamas’s mouthpieces and its propaganda made up a lie that Israeli soldiers raped women and murdered them. Of course without any proof. One woman called and said that she was calling from what they call a ‘hospital.’ No one knows who this woman is; she just threw out some claims and lies so that Al Jazeera and Hamas mouthpieces could spread the lie.”

“[T]he Al Jazeera network and the Hamas mouthpieces are working unsuccessfully to improve the appearance of ISIS-Hamas after October 7th and the acts of massacre, rape, and destruction it committed,” he continued. “Hamas failed in every field – both on the ground and in the media. It claimed that Shifa was a hospital like any other in the world, but there is no way to hide anything, and it is clear to all that Shifa Hospital has become a terror headquarters.”

Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz responded to the admission that the story was false, stating, “Look surprised, the Palestinians fabricate stories of rape to incite anti-Semitism.” He then turned to the UN Secretary-General, noting, “Antonio Guterres, I’m sure that’s sad for you to hear, but that’s the reality.”

“The regime’s Arabic-speaking language outlet is known for spreading antisemitic rhetoric and Holocaust denial, as well as operating a Western-facing outlet, AJ+, which reportedly propagates divisive and inflammatory content while flouting registration under the FARA act for several years,” The Jerusalem Post commented regarding Al Jazeera.