The BBC has issued a strong defense of its reporting on a shooting incident near a U.S.-backed aid distribution site in Gaza, following criticism from the White House, which described the broadcaster's actions as "incorrect".

The controversy was sparked during a press briefing by White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, who alleged that the BBC's initial reporting relied on information from Hamas.

Leavitt claimed the broadcaster had retracted a story regarding the shooting, a assertion the BBC labeled as "completely wrong".

In its statement, the BBC firmly stated, "The claim the BBC took down a story after reviewing footage is completely wrong.

We did not remove any story and we stand by our journalism." Leavitt's comments referenced reports of Israeli forces opening fire near the aid distribution center in Rafah.

She presented printed screenshots from the BBC's website, alleging that the broadcaster had altered casualty figures in multiple headlines, insinuating that it had "corrected and taken down" its original information.

Leavitt noted various headlines, including "Israeli tank kills 26" and "Israeli gunfire kills 31", asserting that the broadcaster had to revise and retract its report after questioning the veracity of the information.

The BBC responded by clarifying that casualty figures provided in their reporting were attributed and updated continuously based on information from diverse sources, which is standard practice in fast-evolving conflicts.

The Gaza health ministry, governed by Hamas, reported at least 31 fatalities due to gunfire, while the International Committee of the Red Cross later confirmed that 21 individuals had died.

Initial reports from local medics indicated 15 casualties.

The BBC emphasized that the figures were consistently attributed, progressing from initial accounts to later statements, illustrating the standard journalistic practice during such rapidly unfolding events.

In a separate online report, the BBC Verify team addressed a viral video circulating on social media, clarifying that it was not linked to the aid distribution center in question and had not influenced their coverage.

The BBC highlighted the misleading nature of conflating this video with the shooting incident.

Accounts from witnesses, non-governmental organizations, and local health officials suggest that civilians were targeted while they awaited food at the aid distribution site.

However, the Israeli military denied these allegations, asserting that its forces had not fired upon civilians.

The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), which supports aid distribution with backing from the U.S. and Israel, labeled such claims as "outright fabrications".

In the aftermath of the incident, GHF announced a temporary suspension of its operations in Gaza, citing security concerns.

The Israeli army subsequently designated routes leading to aid centers as "combat zones".

This development follows a series of violent occurrences that prompted UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to label them as "unacceptable" and potentially constitutive of "war crimes".

The information battle regarding the ongoing conflict, now in its 21st month, has escalated, with both Israel and Hamas striving to control the narrative.

Independent journalism in Gaza faces significant challenges, as Israel routinely restricts international media, including the BBC, from entering the area.

Consequently, news organizations often depend on local journalists and social media for information.

Many local reporters are subjected to intense physical and psychological risks and frequently come under the threat of Israeli airstrikes.

In light of these challenges, the BBC reiterated its call for unrestricted access for media to Gaza, urging support from the White House to facilitate this demand, stressing the necessity for accurate journalism to be upheld.