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Labour MP criticised after false video claim of Israeli troops beating Palestinian children
Grahame Morris said sharing the video, which was from Guatemala not Israel, was 'honest mistake' and later apologised
April 23, 2019 08:38
Grahame Morris said sharing the video, which was from Guatemala not Israel, was 'honest mistake' and later apologised
April 23, 2019 08:38A Labour MP has apologised for sharing a video on Twitter which wrongly claimed to show Israeli soldiers beating Palestinian children after the IDF accused him of spreading lies.
Grahame Morris, who has previously called for economic sanctions against Israel, shared the video from a prominent pro-Corbyn tweeter known as Rachael Swindon.
He wrote: “Marvellous, absolutely marvellous, the Israeli army, the best financed, best trained, best equipped army in the world caught on camera beating up Palestinian children for the fun of it. May God forgive them. What would Jim Royle say on an Easter Monday.”
But the IDF, responding on Twitter, said the “only marvelous [sic] thing here are your lies. These are not IDF soldiers.”
When it was pointed out at that the video was from Guatemala, Mr Morris refused to remove the comment, despite the fact Rachael Swindon deleted the video itself.
The MP for Easington in a further tweet said “many apologies for my honest mistake” but added: “There are lots of verifiable documented examples of the IDF abusing Palestinian child prisoners I have seen for myself in Court on the West Bank”.
He also initially said he was not going to take down the comment because he was “harvesting and documenting a few more of my trolls yet”.
Having sent the Tweet on Monday, he did not apologise until Tuesday, when he said: "I am sorry for sharing a post which purports to show the IDF hurting children but it was in fact the Guatemalan Army.
"My error demonstrates the dangers of fake news online and I will be more diligent in future in checking my sources."
Dave Rich, head of policy at the Community Security Trust, wrote on Twitter: “This is what happens when Labour MPs treat anonymous Twitter trolls as credible voices: the video is from Guatemala, not Israel.
“And no, the Israeli army is not the best financed or equipped army in the world. Not even close.”