A recent tweet by social media personality Michelle Tandler has ignited discussion regarding The New York Times' reporting on the October 7th attacks and the context of a controversial statement attributed to a "young activist." Tandler's post, dated August 8, 2025, directly quoted the alleged activist stating, "we couldn't avoid such a moment," and questioned whether this implied a justification for the violence.
"The NYTimes just promoted this young activist, speaking on Oct 7th, 'we couldn't avoid such a moment.' Let me get this straight - the Palestinians could not avoid raping, mutilating, beheading, and murdering 1,000 Jews in cold blood? 'Couldn't avoid' (?!)" Tandler stated in her tweet.
The specific claim of The New York Times promoting an activist who used this phrase to justify the October 7th atrocities has not been widely substantiated in direct reporting by reputable news organizations. While the phrase "couldn't avoid such a moment" has appeared in various contexts related to the conflict, often discussing the inevitability of escalation or the consequences of actions, its direct attribution to an NYT-promoted activist as a justification for the attacks, as implied by Tandler, lacks clear verification.
The New York Times has faced broader scrutiny and internal debate over its coverage of the October 7th attacks and the subsequent conflict. Its December 2023 investigative report, "'Screams Without Words': How Hamas Weaponized Sexual Violence on Oct. 7," drew significant criticism regarding its sourcing and editorial process. Journalism professors and other media observers have called for independent reviews of the article, citing concerns over its reliance on certain testimonies and the professional backgrounds of some contributing freelancers.
Critics have argued that some of the Times' reporting, particularly on sensitive aspects of the conflict, has been perceived as lacking impartiality or sufficient corroboration, leading to public skepticism. The newspaper has defended its reporting, stating confidence in its accuracy and standing by the team's investigations. Tandler's tweet appears to tap into this ongoing discourse surrounding media narratives and the interpretation of events related to the Israel-Hamas conflict.