Tunnels, Context and International Law All Absent From NBC’s Video “Investigation” of the IDF

By: Jennifer Kouzi February 6, 2026

NBC and co-producer Daniele Hamamdjian did not hold back in their Jan. 21, 2026, ten-minute dissection of Israel’s military’s conduct in its “Video Investigation: How the Israeli Military Responds to Allegations of Abuses in Gaza.” The network strung together numerous clips of captioned video footage – as well as captions with no footage – of  incidents it alleges the IDF has not been forthcoming about investigating. Hamadjian’s narration gave either no context, little context, or downright misleading context as to the nature or background of the events captioned across the screen. The goal was clear: goad viewers into believing Israel had committed war crimes that should be investigated by the world because it was not investigating itself.

The words “tunnels” and “hostages” were never mentioned. The video cited both the Gaza Health Ministry and Palestinian Health Ministry figures, without noting whether those entities were run by Hamas or the Palestinian Authority. The “investigation” relied on alleged footage from more than a dozen incidents, featured a token Jewish lawyer whose anti-Israel background the network obscured, used unsubstantiated statistics and failed to explain international law.

NBC claimed to follow 175 allegations of abuse – out of IDF operations that struck what the Institute for National Security Studies (INSS) tallied to be 44,000 targets, destruction of approximately 90% of Hamas’ rocket arsenal and 40% of its tunnel network – to examine the IDF’s accountability record. A self-described, in-house NBC “forensic analysis” found 27 acknowledged investigations and admissions of wrongdoing in six cases. Aside from network-produced graphics, NBC provided no evidence for these figures, did not name its “forensic analyst” or explain what material was reviewed. The repeated implication was that the IDF provided insufficient or no explanations, which was hypocritical given that NBC itself failed to adequately explain its own investigation.

Here are ten examples of how NBC’s “investigation” misled its audience. As the video provided zero, limited or misleading context, it was the antithesis of an investigation and lacked any real credibility.

The Footage Included:

1. June 6, 2024/Nuseirat/“Re: Strike on UNRWA school, 30 killed”

NBC showed three seconds of footage with the above caption and narration that simply said the network reached out regularly to the IDF to inquire about incidents, “including air strikes causing high numbers of civilian casualties.” No further context was provided.

In fact, the IDF confirmed the death of 17 named terrorists operating from the school as a result of this strike. Further reporting indicated the IDF estimated between 20 and 30 Hamas and Islamic Jihad terrorists were in three classrooms separate from civilians and most, if not all, killed in the overnight strike were terrorists. The strike was delayed twice while the IDF worked to fine-tune the plan to avoid civilian harm and the IDF stated it was investigating reports of civilian injuries.

NBC’s omissions irresponsibly lead its viewers to believe 30 civilians could have been killed, even as the evidence indicates most of the casualties were terrorists.

2. Feb. 15, 2024/Khan Younis/“Re: Detainee Jamal Abu Al-Ola found fatally shot”

NBC showed another few seconds of footage with the above caption and narration that continued from the earlier footage: “incidents where Palestinian detainees were allegedly mistreated.” No other context or information was given other than the caption, leaving viewers with the impression the IDF shot a detainee.

NBC reported nearly two years ago the circumstances surrounding Al-Ola’s death remained unclear.  Not reported by NBC, however, is that the sources it relied on to “piece together much of his final hours” were Hamas members and supportive propagandists, including “journalist” Mohammed El Helo, “journalistic colleague” Mohammad Salama, Dr. Mohammad Harara and Dr. Khaled Al Serr.

From left to right: El Helo, Unknown, “Mr. FAFO,” Dr. Harara

El Helo was a propagandist and associate of the now-deceased fraud and fellow propagandist Saleh al-Jafarawi (a.k.a. Mr. FAFO), as was Dr. Harara, a plastic surgeon whose work NBC News had documented.

El Helo posted a video of Hamas doctor Marwan al-Hams and eulogized Hosam Shabat – an Al Jazeera reporter and Hamas sniper, as did Dr. Al Serr.

 

 

 

 

 

El Helo’s best friend, Al Jazeera photographer Salama, infiltrated Israel on Oct. 7., chanting Allahu Akbar. 

None of this background (including the fact that no one saw who shot Al-Ola) was disclosed to NBC viewers.

3. Jan. 24, 2024/Al Aqsa Uni/“Re: Civilian infrastructure was destroyed”

Hamamdjian said nothing about this captioned footage except for her general narration introducing the investigation, stating that among what NBC asked the IDF about was when “civilian infrastructure was destroyed.”

NBC misidentified this footage as showing Al Aqsa University on Jan. 24, 2025. In earlier coverage by the network in April 2024, the same video is dated Jan. 15, 2024, and identifies the site as Israa University. In its prior coverage correctly identifying the university, NBC News acknowledged the commander who ordered the demolition was “formally censured.” The network’s mislabeling of the footage calls into question what NBC’s “forensic analyst” actually reviewed.

Of course, as NBC noted nearly two years ago, the military probed the Israa University event and reprimanded the commander, demonstrating the IDF’s accountability the network’s video report attempts to challenge.

4. Oct. 13, 2024/Deir al-Balah/“Re: Strike on tents at Al Aqsa Hospital”

Another incident flashed in the video with no context given – simply general narration by Hamamdjian saying “Even wars have rules” – was an Oct. 13, 2024, strike near Al Aqsa Martyrs Hospital. The IDF said it conducted a precise strike on terrorists operating inside a command-and-control center in a parking lot next to the hospital; fire ignited in the lot shortly thereafter. The IDF speculated this was “most likely due to secondary explosions” of ammunition at the site – which had happened previously – adding that the incident was under review.

NBC said none of this. In doing so, it demonstrated an abject unwillingness to engage with actual facts, the very essence of what should comprise an investigation.

5. Oct. 31, 2023/Jabalia/“Re: Strike on refugee camp, more than 100 killed”

Hamamdjian narrated that on this date, “an Israeli strike hit the Jabalia refugee camp; the IDF said it targeted and killed a Hamas commander,” then cited Hamas figures claiming 100 civilians were killed, with absolutely no acknowledgment that casualties included non-civilians. The video then cut to Barrister Danny Friedman. Friedman fed Hamamdjian the red meat and suggested this event could be a war crime because “the ratio obviously stood out as incredibly important.”

Meanwhile, NBC had previously reported on the IDF’s statement that the strike killed several “militants” – though the IDF wrote “terrorists” – including  Oct. 7 massacre architect Ibrahim Biari, and caused adjacent buildings to collapse.

Other reporting quoted IDF spokesman Jonathan Conricus as stating “multiple dozens” of Hamas fighters were killed in the tunnel complex where Biari was directing operations, and that tunnel collapses caused surrounding buildings to fall.

Hamamdjian’s narration misled viewers as she purposely failed to acknowledge Israel targeted and killed dozens of Hamas fighters. Hamamdjian’s allergy to the word “tunnel” rendered her unable or unwilling to explain to viewers that civilian casualties in this event (and other similar ones) were not caused by Israel, but a result of the extensive tunnel system Hamas intentionally built underneath civilians, which collapsed as an unintentional consequence of the Israeli strike.

Neither Hamamdjian nor Friedman mentioned tunnels and the collateral damage the tunnels wrought. There was also no disclosure that the civilian death toll relied on Hamas-provided statistics that do not differentiate between civilians and fighters, an omission central to any “ratio” analysis Friedman claims to have performed.

6. July 13, 2024/Mawasi/“Re: Strike on designated safe zone, 90 killed”

Arguably one of the most pivotal strikes of the entire war, this was the strike that killed Qassam Brigades chief and Oct. 7 mastermind Mohammad Deif and senior Hamas commander of the Khan Younis Brigade, Rafa’a Salameh. Viewers would not have known this from Hamamdjian’s narration, as she did not utter the name Mohammad Deif, and instead simply said: “Another strike allegedly targeting a Hamas commander took place on July 13th,” thus refusing to even acknowledge that the strike not only targeted, but successfully eliminated, the top Hamas leader.

NBC’s omission of Deif’s identity and use of “allegedly” was outrageous and plainly designed to inflame and deceive viewers, particularly since NBC itself reported the elimination of Deif and other terrorists in the July 13 strike. In addition, the network also did not report the IDF’s statement that the strike was in a fenced Hamas compound within a civilian area, not in a tent camp for displaced Palestinians.

Hamamdjian stated there was no public record of any investigation into this strike or any in which “the IDF claimed Hamas was a target,” regardless of the death toll, and reported the IDF would not say which of the “incidents” it investigated. She did relay the IDF’s statements expressing regret for civilian casualties, which correctly noted that death toll alone does not establish reasonable suspicion of a criminal offense.

7. Hamamdjian reported that NBC asked the IDF about three investigations from November and December 2023, which are “still ongoing or unresolved and without even preliminary findings published.” Apart from listing them on the screen, no details were given.

One of the three incidents was the shooting of a mother and daughter at Holy Family Church Complex in Gaza City on Dec. 17, 2023, for which the IDF denied responsibility. Regarding another of the three, an NBC video from Dec. 28, 2023, stated “In a rare move, Israel’s military admitted serious mistakes.”  Given the report’s framing, NBC’s egregious omission of this information raises even more questions about its journalism.

That Israel’s investigations are still ongoing, even from late 2023, means nothing, though Hamamdjian’s narration suggested otherwise. As for one example, the U.S. Army’s Criminal Investigation Command Spokesman said, in 2015, “All death investigations . . . are conducted to a thoroughness standard, not necessarily to a timetable.”

8. Hamamdjian said, “in the six cases where the IDF admitted wrongdoing, accountability was swift and followed international outcry.”

The video briefly showed “a siege and raid on Kamal Adwan Hospital” on Oct. 26, 2024, without telling viewers that Israeli special forces captured 100 suspected terrorists and found weapons, terror funds and intelligence documents.

During the raid, the son of Hussam Abu Safiya – pediatrician, New York Times op-ed writer, and Hamas member – was killed. NBC News wrote sympathetically at the time: “NBC News’ crew joined Abu Safiya as he stood side by side with relatives, patients and displaced people to say a tearful, final prayer to his son. They hugged and consoled him.”

It was later revealed – though not in NBC’s investigation – that Israeli hostages were held in Kamal Adwan Hospital, which was used as a Hamas base of operations.

Hamamdjian also lamented that NBC received no specific response to 56 of the incidents about which it inquired and that, in a dozen cases, it received identical statements that the IDF follows international law and takes feasible precautions to mitigate civilian harm.

Another video caption referenced an alleged strike on a displaced persons camp in Tal al-Sultan. NBC reported at the time that the IDF was targeting two Hamas leaders responsible for organizing terror attacks in the West Bank and that steps were taken to reduce harm to uninvolved civilians. No such context was provided this time, in the video, however.

NBC’s “Expert”

NBC asked token Jewish lawyer, Danny Friedman, to review the network’s findings. Hamamdjian interviewed him while concealing his active involvement in criminal prosecution of Israel’s leaders, a highly relevant conflict of interest when purporting to be presenting unbiased news coverage. The omission was especially striking as she explained to viewers that the International Criminal Court (ICC) had issued arrest warrants for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defense minister Yoav Gallant but did not disclose Friedman had served on the panel, convened by compromised ICC Karim Khan, that unanimously recommended issuing the warrants.

In the NBC video, Hamamdjian dismissed Hamas’ use of human shields by asking Friedman to “deconstruct” the argument that Hamas bears responsibility when civilians are harmed while it hides among them. Friedman dismissed this as no defense for those who say, “to hell with the civilians,” implicitly, and dishonestly, attributing that view to Israel/IDF.

NBC Ignored International Law

NBC not so subtly argued Israel cannot credibly investigate itself for what the network deems war crimes and should therefore face outside investigation. But this turns international law upside down. Under international law, states are supposed to be allowed to investigate themselves. Under the principle of complementarity, the ICC is to become involved only as a last resort, and only in the most egregious of cases when states are unwilling or unable to investigate themselves.

Israel’s robust military justice system matches, and in some way exceeds, the standards to which other major Western militaries hold themselves. A generous reading of NBC’s argument is that because it disagrees with the outcomes of the investigations – based on the partial, incomplete information to which it has access – the investigations must therefore be inadequate. A less generous reading smacks of double standards, distrust and dislike of Israel.

This video, including the agenda and conclusions it pushed viewers to reach, was not journalism – it was activism.

Conclusion

It is fine for NBC News to oppose war. No one favors it. But, as Parker Yesko wrote, “War entails unspeakable violence, much of it entirely legal.” When members of a military operate outside the bounds of legality, whether a military can investigate itself fairly is a universal concern and a topic about which reasonable minds can debate. The U.S., U.K., and Australia have all confronted perceived failures in their militaries’ accountability.

That said; NBC has not investigated any of those militaries.

Making Israel the subject of the network’s first and sole video investigation of a military’s “accountability” mechanism while it ignores international law indicates an unhealthy fixation on NBC’s part with the world’s only Jewish State.

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