New York Times Edits Article After Criticism Over Oct. 7 Victim Wording

The New York Times has removed a sentence from an article about the anti-Israel documentary NAZA following criticism regarding its portrayal of the victims of the October 7, 2023, massacre. The original text stated that Israelis remained deeply divided over political, military, and security responsibilities preceding the attack and war, and then added, "But Israelis continue, for the most part, to see themselves as the victims of October 7." This phrasing drew condemnation from journalists and media watchdog organizations who argued it presented the fact of Israelis being victims of Hamas atrocities as mere perception. Journalist Eitan Fischberger likened the sentence to suggesting Americans "still see themselves as the victims of 9/11" or the Pearl Harbor attack. Responding to Fox News Digital, The New York Times attributed the sentence to an "editing error" and subsequently deleted it. A note from the editors was also appended to the article, with the newspaper explaining the passage was intended to discuss Israelis' perception of their government's military response but "inadvertently suggested their experience as victims of terrorism was a matter of perception."