GB News, on Gaza, 4 October 2026

6.0out of 10Serious

Zack Polanski

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Zack Polanski has accused the Israeli military of staging "," it has been revealed. The comments come in an episode of the Green Party leader's podcast, Bold Politics, in which he claims there are "definitely examples" of the Israeli Government using the military tactic. "What I find really difficult to navigate is anti-Semitism on the Left," he told listeners. "Because, again, I want to be really clear: there are definitely examples of where the Israeli government [has] used false flags."

TRENDING Stories Videos Your Say Mr Polanski referred to the Hannibal Directive, which was introduced to prevent the capture of Israeli soldiers and allowed troops to shoot even if their compatriot is caught in the crossfire. It was officially revoked in 2016. The Greens leader conceded some on the Left can become "distracted" or "see false flags or conspiracy theories in places where we don’t have evidence for it". He explained: "I think it undermines the real fight against anti-Semitism that we have in this country, which as a Left-wing movement we stand against all forms of racism.

Left out here: Leaves out what changes the picture

After telling readers the Hannibal Directive 'was officially revoked in 2016', GB News never says what happened on 7 October 2023. At 11:22 the Israeli occupation forces' Gaza Division ordered that not a single vehicle return to Gaza, and at 11:59 Southern Command ordered any withdrawal stopped at any cost. Israel's own investigations attribute at least 13 deaths from 7 to 9 October to Israeli fire. Without this, a reader believes the directive Polanski cited is a dead policy and his reference has no basis.

How we know

  • On the recordIsraeli occupation forces' Gaza Division ordered, at 11:22 on 7 October 2023, that not a single vehicle could return to Gaza, and Southern Command at 11:59 ordered any withdrawal into Gaza stopped at any cost.newscord.org (opens in a new tab)
  • On the recordIsrael's own military investigations and memorial records attribute at least 13 of the deaths on 7 to 9 October 2023 to Israeli fire.newscord.org (opens in a new tab)

"So that has to be part of it too. I can understand why people are angry. I really understand why people are angry. I can understand why people want to hold people to account as soon as possible. "How do you harness that true motivation and at the same time encourage people to take a breath and say when we make accusations or when we put things out there, it has to be based [on] evidence - otherwise, we’re undermining our own movement."

Zack Polanski has accused the Israeli military of staging 'false flag attacks,' it has been revealed | PA The ongoing Green Party Conference has been shrouded in the "Zionism is Racism" debate this week. The motion, which declares Zionism "will be treated as any other form of racism", will be voted on by members today. If passed, the Greens' official policy will describe the movement that led to the creation of Israel as a Jewish state as racist.

"This motion will be implemented by the anti-racism policy working group as appropriate and in accordance with its ordinary practice," the party stated. LATEST POLITICS NEWS: Andy Burnham blasted as ‘completely undemocratic’ by Laura Trott as PM flirts with Brexit betrayal Kemi Badenoch to unveil 95-page 'manifesto' in preparation for snap General Election Green meltdown as activists label Reform 'fascist' and claim Britain faces 'far-right autocracy' The ongoing Green Party Conference has been shrouded in the 'Zionism is Racism' debate this week | PA Should it be passed, it will also demand the abolition of the state of Israel; instead, it will propose the founding of a "single democratic Palestinian state in all of historic Palestine".

Mr Polanski, who is Jewish, refused to explicitly outline his personal views, and will not be voting on the motion. Instead, he will be out campaigning ahead of Thursday's Holborn and St Pancras by-election, in which he is standing as the candidate for the Greens. When asked if Israel had the right to exist, he responded: "I believe that people have a right to exist. Both Israelis have a right to exist and Palestinians have a right to exist.

Caroline Lucas, the Green Party's first MP, told the BBC she has 'serious concerns about this motion' | GETTY "I think our job as political parties is to defend the rights of people, not defend the rights of nations." Caroline Lucas, the Green Party's first MP, told the BBC she has "serious concerns about this motion". "There is no single definition of Zionism, and irrespective of the intentions of the people who put that motion forward, I think there is a real risk that it’ll be divisive and could be seen as a sign that Jewish people aren’t welcome in the party," she said.

"I will not be supporting it for that reason." GB News have approached the Greens for comment. There are 15 candidates hoping to secure Sir Keir's former seat. They are as follows: Barmy Brunch, Official Monster Raving Loony Party Ben Walker, UKIP - NO to Illegal Immigration Briony Anne Lonbay Kapoor, Rejoin EU Clare Fischer, Climate Party Ewan Cameron, The Conservative Party Candidate George Galloway, Workers Party Helen Spiby-Vann, Christian Peoples Alliance Jonathan Silberman, Communist League Ketankumar Pipaliya, UK VOICE safer and stronger UK Patrick Thomas Stillman, Liberal Democrats Peter Newman, Reform UK Sagal Abdi-Wali, Labour Party Tom Darwood, Indepedent Tyler Kurtis Johnson, Restore Britain Zack Polanski, The Green Party Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter

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What we found (2)

GB News turns Zack Polanski's remark that the Israeli government has 'used false flags' into a headline saying he accused the Israeli military of 'staging false flag attacks'. In S1 it puts 'false flag attacks' in quotation marks, though no one in the article says those words. After noting that the Hannibal Directive was revoked in 2016, the outlet also leaves out the documented 7 October 2023 orders and the deaths Israel's own investigations attribute to Israeli fire.

  1. Headline goes beyond the article

    Serious

    “accuses Israeli military of staging 'false flag' attacks”

    Why this matters
    The headline says Polanski accused the Israeli military of staging attacks. The words 'staging' and 'attacks' come from GB News, and 'military' replaces the 'government' he named.
    The impression it gives
    A reader believes Polanski said the Israeli army stages fake attacks on itself.
    The context
    The only quote the article gives is that the Israeli government has 'used false flags', which he linked to the Hannibal Directive. That is a policy of firing at the risk of its own captured soldiers, not staging attacks.

    How we know

    • Elsewhere in the article“there are definitely examples of where the Israeli government [has] used false flags”
    • Elsewhere in the article“Mr Polanski referred to the Hannibal Directive”

    Show it in the article

    “false flag attacks”

    Why this matters
    GB News puts 'false flag attacks' inside quotation marks as if Polanski said those words.
    The impression it gives
    A reader takes 'false flag attacks' as Polanski's own phrase.
    The context
    The quote the article reports says 'false flags', not 'false flag attacks'. Nothing in the article shows him saying the longer phrase.

    How we know

    • Elsewhere in the article“the Israeli government [has] used false flags”

    Show it in the article

    Written straight

    Zack Polanski says the Israeli government has 'used false flags', citing the Hannibal Directive.

  2. Leaves out what changes the picture

    Minor

    What is missing

    After telling readers the Hannibal Directive 'was officially revoked in 2016', GB News never says what happened on 7 October 2023. At 11:22 the Israeli occupation forces' Gaza Division ordered that not a single vehicle return to Gaza, and at 11:59 Southern Command ordered any withdrawal stopped at any cost. Israel's own investigations attribute at least 13 deaths from 7 to 9 October to Israeli fire. Without this, a reader believes the directive Polanski cited is a dead policy and his reference has no basis.

    How we know

    • On the recordIsraeli occupation forces' Gaza Division ordered, at 11:22 on 7 October 2023, that not a single vehicle could return to Gaza, and Southern Command at 11:59 ordered any withdrawal into Gaza stopped at any cost.newscord.org (opens in a new tab)
    • On the recordIsrael's own military investigations and memorial records attribute at least 13 of the deaths on 7 to 9 October 2023 to Israeli fire.newscord.org (opens in a new tab)

    Show where it belongs

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