The Israel Security Agency’s report on terror attacks (Hebrew) during April 2018 shows that throughout the month a total of 223 incidents took place: 83 in Judea & Samaria, 22 in Jerusalem and 118 in the Gaza Strip/Sinai sector.
In Judea & Samaria and Jerusalem the agency recorded 94 attacks with petrol bombs, six attacks using improvised explosive devices (IEDs), four shooting attacks and one arson attack. In the Gaza Strip sector the agency recorded 98 attacks with petrol bombs, three shooting attacks, 15 attacks using IEDs, one grenade attack and one arson attack. No missile or mortar attacks were recorded during April.
Two Israelis were injured during April. In Jerusalem a civilian was wounded by a petrol bomb on April 19th and in Jenin a member of the security forces was wounded in a shooting attack on April 24th.
Visitors to the BBC News website saw no reporting on any of the incidents in Jerusalem and Judea & Samaria.
All the website’s coverage of the incidents along the Gaza border during April is listed below. As can be seen, the sole first-hand account from a BBC journalist relates to stone-throwing (which is not recorded by the ISA). The only mentions of firebombs, weapons and explosive devices are found in quotes or descriptions of statements from the IDF/Israel.
Gaza protests: further deaths in renewed border protest April 6th
Yolande Knell: “Now we have seen Palestinians who have been throwing stones.”
Deadly unrest on Gaza-Israel border as Palestinians resume protests April 7th
“Protesters threw stones and firebombs at troops deployed on berms on the Israeli side of the frontier, the Israeli military said, and multiple attempts were made to break through the border fence.”
Israel to investigate killing of Palestinian journalist April 7th
None
Israeli minister praises viral video sniper April 10th
“Israel has defended its actions, saying it has only used live fire against individuals trying to breach the border fence, or those using weapons or explosives.”
Fierce clashes continue at Gaza-Israel border fence April 13th
“Israel’s army estimated there were 10,000 people “rioting” on Friday, with some attempting to breach the fence with firebombs and explosive devices.”
Israel border clashes: Three Palestinians killed, Gaza officials say April 27th
“Israel said hundreds of rioters had tried to burn the fence, and threw rocks and firebombs. Its soldiers used tear gas, rubber bullets and live fire.”
In other words, the BBC did not itself report on any of the 118 recorded incidents along the Gaza Strip-Israel border during April and all four generalised references to such attacks seen by audiences throughout the month’s 30 days were attributed to a third party.
If, notwithstanding the unspecific nature of that coverage, we count those four references as ‘reporting’ we can say that the BBC covered 1.79% of the terror attacks that took place during April 2018 and that since the beginning of the year the BBC has reported 1.6% of the attacks and 100% of the fatalities. Just one of the six separate incidents of rocket and mortar fire from the Gaza Strip that have taken place since the beginning of the year has been mentioned in BBC News website coverage.
Related Articles:
BBC News coverage of terrorism in Israel – March 2018
BBC News coverage of terrorism in Israel – February 2018
BBC News coverage of terrorism in Israel – January 2018
BBC News coverage of terrorism in Israel – December 2017 and year summary
