Merlyn Thomas

Ros Atkins on... how the BBC is run The BBC's analysis editor looks at how the organisation works - to understand why two bosses quit over the weekend.

Ros Atkins on... how the BBC is run

As the fall-out from the resignation of both the BBC’s Director-General and CEO of News continues, our Analysis Editor examines how the organisation is governed & why the role of the BBC Board is crucial to this story. www.bbc.co.uk/news/videos/...

Israel has destroyed more than 1,500 buildings in Gaza since ceasefire Entire neighbourhoods controlled by Israel have been levelled in less than a month, the images show.

Israel has destroyed more than 1,500 buildings in areas of Gaza that have remained under its control since the ceasefire with Hamas started on 10 October, satellite images reviewed by BBC Verify show.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Since our investigation the RSF have posted a video purporting to show the arrest of Abu Lulu - the man BBC Verify identifed carrying out executions of unarmed men in el-Fasher.

Footage shows trucks arriving at Shala Prison on the outskirts of the city.

Sudan war: New videos show executions after RSF militia takes key city RSF troops executed a number of unarmed people after seizing el-Fasher, videos reviewed by BBC Verify show.

New videos show executions after RSF militia takes key Sudan city.

BBC Verify identified the shooting of an unarmed man sat amid dozens of bodies in the city of el-Fasher.

We identified one RSF fighter, Abu Lulu, killing unarmed men in multiple videos.

bbc.com/news/articles/cd9kjw515pyo

The IDF didn't address the allegations when approached by BBC Verify, stating simply that: "IDF troops under the Southern Command have begun marking the Yellow Line in the Gaza Strip to establish tactical clarity on the ground."

Multiple experts suggested the blocks were intended to create a "buffer zone" between Palestinians and IDF troops.

"This gives the IDF space to manoeuvre and create a 'kill zone' against potential targets" @andreaskrieg.bsky.social

Latest work from
@benedictgarman.com @emmapengelly.bsky.social @matt-murphy96.bsky.social

Israeli troops have been marking the "yellow line" with physical blocks.

But we found in some parts they’re 100s of metres deeper inside the strip than Israel's own map released after the ceasefire deal.

The IDF didn't address the allegations when approached by BBC Verify, stating simply that: "IDF troops under the Southern Command have begun marking the Yellow Line in the Gaza Strip to establish tactical clarity on the ground."

Multiple experts suggested the blocks were intended to create a "buffer zone" between Palestinians and IDF troops.

"This gives the IDF space to manoeuvre and create a 'kill zone' against potential targets"
@andreaskrieg.bsky.social

Israel maintaining control deeper inside Gaza than expected, new boundary markers suggest Israel has placed boundary markers up to 520m deeper inside Gaza than expected under the ceasefire deal with Hamas.

For Palestinians, a line on a map can be the difference between life and death.

BBC Verify found Israel is controlling more of Gaza than agreed in the ceasefire deal.

Israel said anyone who crossed its "yellow line" would be “met with fire”.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Unpicking Trump’s Gaza peace plan map BBC Verify analyses President Trump’s peace plan for Gaza and what it means on the ground.

The White published a map of what a future Gaza would look like as part of a 20-point peace plan.

BBC Verify analysis shows that the proposed 'final withdrawal' would still leave Gaza 15% occupied.

Reporting w/ @benedictgarman.com
Graphics @mesutersoz.com

www.bbc.co.uk/news/videos/...

BBC Verify tasked new satellite imagery to track the Israeli military offensive in Gaza City in near real time. What we found was Israeli military presence deep into the city and closing in on its last remaining residents.

Reporting with @benedictgarman.com @mesutersoz.com @herdjemimah.bsky.social

Israel demolishes more high-rise towers as Gaza City offensive ramps up BBC Verify's Merlyn Thomas looks at the latest Israeli strikes on buildings in Gaza City city over the weekend.

On Israel's destruction of prominent buildings in Gaza City w/ @merlynthomas.bsky.social @paulybrown.bsky.social @richib.bsky.social and @sebkilli.bsky.social www.bbc.co.uk/news/videos/...

Israel struck Gaza's Nasser Hospital four times, analysis finds New footage has revealed that two more strikes were carried out on hospital by Israel than initially reported.

NEW: Israel struck Nasser Hospital at least 4 times in its attack which killed journalists, BBC Verify found.

We found Israel hit two staircases in the first wave. Minutes later it struck one of the staircases twice more.

@benedictgarman.com @sebkilli.bsky.social

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Israel struck Gaza's Nasser Hospital four times, analysis finds New footage has revealed that two more strikes were carried out on hospital by Israel than initially reported.

NEW: Israel struck Nasser Hospital at least 4 times in its attack which killed journalists, BBC Verify found.

We found Israel hit two staircases in the first wave. Minutes later it struck one of the staircases twice more.

@benedictgarman.com @sebkilli.bsky.social

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Israel struck Gaza's Nasser Hospital four times, analysis finds New footage has revealed that two more strikes were carried out on hospital by Israel than initially reported.

Israel hit Nasser hospital 4 times in its deadly attack on Monday. Analysis with @merlynthomas.bsky.social and Sebastian Vandermeersch. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

We geolocated the view out of the window as Jeremy Bowen's team filmed packages falling from a plane over Gaza yesterday. They were dropped into a "dangerous combat zone", which Palestinians are warned not to enter because it would put their lives at risk. www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cd...

Israeli army admits to Gaza strike after BBC Verify investigation At least one Palestinian was killed and 30 others injured in the Israeli strike on tents in Khan Younis on Sunday, medics say.

Investigation by @merlynthomas.bsky.social and @emmapengelly.bsky.social prompts IDF to admit 'error' www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Israeli army admits to Gaza strike after BBC Verify investigation At least one Palestinian was killed and 30 others injured in the Israeli strike on tents in Khan Younis on Sunday, medics say.

NEW: BBC Verify has uncovered a previously unacknowledged Israeli strike in al-Mawasi.

The Israeli army admitted that the strike did not hit its intended "target" due to "technical or operational errors".

W/
@emmapengelly.bsky.social www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Gaza medics killing: Israeli army fired as close as 12m, audio suggests The analysis shows Israeli troops fired 100 shots during the attack which killed 15 people.

Israeli troops fired more than 100 times during an attack which killed 15 emergency workers in Gaza, according to forensic audio analysis of footage commissioned by BBC Verify.

Some gunfire was as close as 12 metres away.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Gaza medics killing: Israeli army fired as close as 12m, audio suggests The analysis shows Israeli troops fired 100 shots during the attack which killed 15 people.

Israeli troops fired more than 100 times during an attack which killed 15 emergency workers in Gaza, according to forensic audio analysis of footage commissioned by BBC Verify.

Some gunfire was as close as 12 metres away.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Tracking Syrian rebels' lightning offensive as they approach key city BBC Verify has been tracking the territory captured by Syrian rebels as they move towards Homs.

A follow up to our previous piece tracking rebel forces in Syria w/ @paulybrown.bsky.social @shayan86.bsky.social @merlynthomas.bsky.social www.bbc.co.uk/news/videos/...

BBC Verify tracks week of rebel advances in Syria It’s been one week since rebel forces launched their largest offensive against the Syrian government in years. BBC Verify has been tracking their advances.

It’s been one week since rebel forces launched their largest offensive against the Syrian government in years.

BBC Verify has been tracking rebel advances by analysing and tracking footage on social media.

@paulybrown.bsky.social @benedictgarman.com

www.bbc.co.uk/news/videos/...

BBC Verify tracks week of rebel advances in Syria It’s been one week since rebel forces launched their largest offensive against the Syrian government in years. BBC Verify has been tracking their advances.

BBC Verify tracks week of rebel advances in Syria, reporting from @merlynthomas.bsky.social, @benedictgarman.com, @paulybrown.bsky.social + many others. www.bbc.co.uk/news/videos/...

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
The biggest offensive against the government in years

Here's BBC Verify's workings on rebel media in W Aleppo: bsky.app/profile/rich...

And people leaving the area around the university: bsky.app/profile/rich...

w/ @paulybrown.bsky.social, @merlynthomas.bsky.social

A behind the scenes look at BBC Verify’s set where the team is fact-checking Robert F. Kennedy Jr’s views on health issues.

Here’s a behind the scenes look at BBC Verify today: We’re fact-checking Robert F. Kennedy Jr’s views on health issues after Donald Trump nominated him to be the next US health secretary.

Stay up to date with the BBC’s live blog here: www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c0...

Hi brave new world! Thought I'd introduce myself here. I'm a senior reporter at BBC Verify covering OSINT + social media investigations and mis/disinformation and its real-world harm.

Get in touch about stories I should be investigating via merlyn.thomas@bbc.co.uk or merlynthomas.11 on Signal