When a hostage is accidentally killed by a soldier or policeman who is trying to kill the hostage-taker, who is guilty of the murder? That’s the question to understand as the press gets it wrong in Gaza.

The New York Times has published a distorted and internally inconsistent “analysis “ of casualties allegedly inflicted by Israel on civilians in Gaza.

Under a headline about “civilians” killed by Israel, they cite the total number of deaths reported by the Hamas-controlled Gaza health authorities as gospel, and then hide a one sentence disclaimer that these Hamas generated figures do not even purport to “separate the deaths of civilians and combatants.”

Nor do they identify how many of those who they count as “civilians” are actually Hamas collaborators who allow their homes to be used to hide rockets, tunnels, or terrorists.

[The US media chose sides in this conflict long ago, and they chose the side of the terrorists. It’s yet another reason to find alternative sources for better information. — Ed]