IDF rejects claims media unit cheated journalists with Gaza invasion tweet

The IDF Spokesperson Brig.-Gen. Hidai Zilberman apologized to the Foreign Press Association on Saturday after his office was accused of manipulating the media with a tweet by the unit's English language Twitter account on Thursday night insinuating that the military had invaded the Gaza Strip. The tweet caused a worldwide ruckus, as it brought inaccurate reports of an IDF ground forces incursion into the Gaza Strip. The tweet was later reported to have been part of a possible deception campaign by the military to get Hamas to think that the IDF was invading Gaza so its operatives would enter the "Metro", the underground tunnel network that was then destroyed in a massive Israeli aerial assault. 

IDF air and ground troops are currently attacking in the Gaza Strip.

— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) May 13, 2021

"IDF air and ground troops are currently attacking in the Gaza Strip," the tweet read, leading news sources all over the world to understand that ground troops were currently attacking from inside the Gaza Strip.In Hebrew the tweet was also unclear, but a bit more specific. The IDF was announcing massive strikes on Gaza in which ground forces participated through artillery fire, but not the entrance of troops to the strip.Following the tweet, websites of media outlets around the world, including the Washington Post and ABC, reported the incursion of IDF ground forces into Gaza.

Israeli troops have entered the Gaza Strip as conflict with Palestinians escalates, Israeli military says https://t.co/Rc9VG9ImE0

— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) May 13, 2021

"Israeli troops have entered the Gaza Strip as conflict with Palestinian s escalates, Israeli military says," read a Tweet from the Washington Post account.

Israel's military says it has deployed ground troops in Gaza tonight in a serious escalation. Here's the latestThis article is free to read https://t.co/te35RskUUA

— The Telegraph (@Telegraph) May 13, 2021

On Saturday night, IDF Spokesperson Hidai Zilberman denied that the IDF had intentionally tried to confuse international media, saying that investigation found that an officer involved had made an "honest mistake" and apologizing for the error.

לפני זמן קצר שלחתי מכתב ליושב ראש אגודת העיתונאים הזרים בישראל ובו עיקרי הפרטים מהתחקיר שקיימתי היום בנושא התדריך לכתבים הזרים ביום חמישי בלילה. טעותו של הקצין נעשתה בתום לב וכתוצאה מאי הבנה של תמונת המצב המבצעית בשטח ולא משום סיבה אחרת >>> pic.twitter.com/G9czvmixkR

— הדי זילברמן - Hidai Zilberman (@IDFSpokesperson) May 15, 2021

Jerusalem Post Staff contributed to this report.