NSC Spokesperson Accuses Reporter of Fabricating Gaza Quotes; Journalists Defend and Denounce Administration Response
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NSC spokesperson accused HuffPost reporter Akbar Shahid Ahmed of fabricating quotes in an article about Brett McGurk's plan for reconstructing Gaza.
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Ahmed and other journalists pushed back strongly, standing by the reporting and condemning the "deeply offensive" accusation.
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Journalists on Twitter came to Ahmed's defense, calling him a "brilliant, careful and thoughtful reporter" and denouncing the administration's response.
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Some said the administration's accusation reflects an "escalation" and is "unprofessional" and "embarrassing."
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The response raised alarms that the administration can't "even get [its] messaging straight" regarding the "disaster in Gaza."