In a surprising turn of events, "PBS NewsHour" anchor Judy Woodruff issued an apology for wrongly reporting a story about former President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The news segment had claimed that Trump urged Netanyahu to delay a hostage deal with Hamas until after the 2024 presidential election, allegedly for his political benefit. However, both leaders vehemently denied the existence of such a phone call.

Woodruff took to social media to express her regret, stating, "This was a mistake and I apologize for it." She clarified that her remarks were based on reports she had read in Axios and Reuters, and she hadn't seen later reports where both sides denied the phone call. Woodruff acknowledged that the information she shared was not from her original reporting.

During the Monday night segment of "PBS NewsHour," Woodruff mentioned, "The reporting is that former President Trump is on the phone with the Prime Minister of Israel, urging him not to cut a deal right now, because it's believed that would help the Harris campaign." However, the Israeli Prime Minister's Office strongly denounced Woodruff's reporting, calling it a "complete lie."

Israel's Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, released a statement denying Axios' report about the phone call regarding the Gaza hostage and cease-fire deal. Axios later updated their story to include Netanyahu's denial. Former President Trump also insisted that the phone call never took place, confirming that his last conversation with Netanyahu occurred in July during a visit to his Mar-a-Lago residence.

Woodruff's false reporting drew criticism from various sources. Representative Mike Waltz of Florida, a staunch Trump supporter, called for her to retract the statement, asserting that Netanyahu's office had categorically denied the claim. PBS has not yet responded to the request for comment from Fox News Digital.

Accuracy and integrity are crucial in journalism, and this incident highlights the importance of thorough fact-checking and verification of sources. While Woodruff promptly apologized, the incident serves as a reminder of the responsibility journalists have to ensure the accuracy of the information they disseminate.

In the fast-paced world of news reporting, it is essential to rely on verified sources and exercise caution when reporting unconfirmed information. As both Trump and Netanyahu denied the existence of the phone call, this serves as a reminder to remain vigilant and verify facts before disseminating news to the public.