The New York Times has updated one of its recent reports about the October 7, 2023, Hamas terrorist attack on Israel after widespread criticism over wording that many readers believed cast doubt on Israelis' status as victims of the assault.

The newspaper removed a sentence from a story written by reporter Isabel Kershner, who covers Israeli and Palestinian affairs, and later acknowledged that the language had been included because of an editing mistake.

The article, published Monday, focused on public reaction to a documentary examining the deaths of Palestinians during Israel's military campaign in Gaza. While discussing political divisions inside Israel, the original version stated that "Israelis still largely view themselves as the victims of Oct. 7," a phrase that quickly drew criticism for appearing to present an established historical fact as merely a matter of perception.

The wording sparked a wave of reactions from journalists, analysts, and readers who argued that the October 7 attack—during which Hamas militants killed approximately 1,200 people and abducted 254 hostages—was an internationally documented terrorist assault in which Israeli civilians were among the primary victims.

Journalist Eitan Fischberger, who previously served in the Israel Defense Forces, criticized the sentence, arguing that it framed an objective event as if it were simply an opinion.

He compared the wording to suggesting that Americans merely "view themselves" as victims of the September 11 attacks or the Pearl Harbor attack, saying such phrasing minimizes the reality of the atrocities committed on October 7.

Following questions about the article, The New York Times removed the disputed sentence and published an editor's note explaining the change.

According to the newspaper, the sentence resulted from an editing error and unintentionally implied that Israelis' experience as victims of the October 7 terrorist attack was subjective rather than factual.

The editor's note states that the original language was intended to describe Israeli public opinion regarding the government's military response following the attack—not to question who the victims of the Hamas assault were. The sentence was removed after editors concluded it failed to communicate that distinction.

The controversy comes amid continuing scrutiny of media coverage of the Israel-Hamas war. Critics from multiple perspectives have debated how major news organizations characterize the conflict and the language used when describing both the October 7 attacks and the war that followed.

The October 7, 2023, Hamas attack marked the deadliest assault on Israel in its history, with civilians targeted in homes, communities, and at the Nova music festival. The attack triggered Israel's military campaign in Gaza, a conflict that has remained the focus of intense international attention and ongoing debate.