The Washington Post was forced to issue a correction after falsely claiming Israel’s 2005 Gaza withdrawal resulted from a “peace agreement,” exposing yet another example of mainstream media’s dangerous misrepresentation of Middle East history.
Story Snapshot
- Washington Post falsely reported Israel’s 2005 Gaza withdrawal was mandated by a peace agreement
- CAMERA media watchdog group intervened to demand factual correction
- Israel’s withdrawal was actually a unilateral decision, not negotiated
- Correction highlights ongoing media bias in Middle East reporting
Media Watchdog Forces Truth
CAMERA (Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting and Analysis) contacted the Washington Post after identifying the glaring historical inaccuracy in their August 31st article about Gaza postwar plans. The original piece incorrectly stated that Israel’s 2005 withdrawal from Gaza was the result of a peace agreement, fundamentally mischaracterizing one of the most significant Middle East events of the 21st century.
The Washington Post corrected a report after falsely claiming Israel's 2005 Gaza withdrawal was due to a peace agreement; it was actually a unilateral move. Critics flagged the error, prompting the update. More at https://t.co/bgfrR3OBWo
— Israel Headline News (@IsraelHeadline) September 3, 2025
The correction now properly states: “Israel maintained settlements in Gaza until 2005, when it unilaterally withdrew from the enclave.” This seemingly small change represents a massive factual difference that shapes public understanding of Israeli-Palestinian relations and undermines anti-Israel narratives suggesting negotiated concessions led nowhere.
Historical Record Sets Things Straight
Israel occupied Gaza after the 1967 Six-Day War and implemented its “disengagement plan” in 2005 following failed peace negotiations at Camp David and Taba during 2000-2001. Palestinian leaders rejected comprehensive U.S. and Israeli offers for statehood during those talks, leaving Israel to pursue unilateral action for security and demographic reasons.
The withdrawal was controversial within Israel, with many fearing it would embolden Palestinian militants—concerns that proved tragically prescient given subsequent Hamas control and repeated attacks from the territory. The Washington Post’s own archives from August 14, 2005, accurately reported the withdrawal as unilateral, making their recent error even more inexcusable.
Pattern of Media Bias Exposed
This correction represents more than a simple factual error—it reveals how mainstream media consistently frames Middle East coverage to diminish Israel’s security concerns while promoting false narratives of equivalence. By suggesting the 2005 withdrawal resulted from successful negotiations, the Post implied Palestinian leadership engaged constructively in peace processes when historical records show the opposite.
The incident underscores why media watchdog organizations like CAMERA remain essential for maintaining journalistic integrity. Without their intervention, millions of readers would have absorbed historically inaccurate information that distorts understanding of Israeli-Palestinian dynamics and undermines appreciation for Israel’s repeated concessions for peace.
Sources:
CAMERA Prompts Washington Post Correction: There Was No Negotiated Withdrawal from Gaza in 2005
