Western media accused of working with journalists embedded with Hamas during attack
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has accused the photojournalists of being 'accomplices in crimes against humanity'
Author of the article:Spiro Papuckoski
Published Nov 09, 2023 • Last updated 1 day ago • 3 minute read
Journalists working with Western media were allegedly embedded with Hamas forces as the militants staged a deadly terrorist attack in Israel last month.
On Wednesday, media watchdog Honest Reporting published a bombshell investigation claiming the rampage on Oct. 7 that killed 1,400 Israeli citizens – mostly civilians – was documented by several photojournalists who had ties to the Associated Press and Reuters news agencies, as well as the New York Times and CNN.
The outlet alleges the photographers knew the attack was coming and participated in it.
The photos, obtained by the wire services, show Hamas fighters storming an Israeli kibbutz and abducting civilians back to Gaza.
In one image, the body of an Israeli soldier was partially seen in the back of a pickup truck with armed Hamas militants.
A burning Israeli tank was also photographed on the Israeli side of the border.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu slammed the photojournalists following the report, calling them “accomplices in crimes against humanity” and pointing out “their actions were contrary to professional ethics.”
Dr. Shlomo Karhi, Israel’s Minister of Communications, sent a blistering letter to the news organizations demanding a thorough response to the accusations.
“Terrorists disguised as journalists? I demanded immediate clarifications from the international media bodies published in the investigation,” he shared on social media site X.
According to a report on Ynet News, an English news site based in Israel, AP had decided to cut ties with one journalist, who was photographed next to an Israeli tank.
“We are no longer working with Hassan Eslaiah, who had been an occasional freelancer for AP and other international news organizations in Gaza,” their statement said.
Ynet News also reported CNN had suspended its ties with Eslaiah.
“We are aware of the article and photo concerning Hassan Eslaiah, a freelance photojournalist who has worked with a number of international and Israeli outlets. While we have not at this time found reason to doubt the journalistic accuracy of the work he has done for us, we have decided to suspend all ties with him.”
However, the New York Times issued a statement standing by its decision to work with freelancer Yousef Masoud, who was employed by AP on Oct. 7 and denied having prior knowledge of the attack.
“Though Yousef was not working for The Times on the day of the attack, he has since done important work for us. There is no evidence for Honest Reporting’s insinuations. Our review of his work shows that he was doing what photojournalists always do during major news events, documenting the tragedy as it unfolded.”
Meanwhile, Reuters has denied having prior knowledge of the attack or that journalists were embedded with Hamas on Oct. 7.
“Reuters acquired photographs from two Gaza-based freelance photographers who were at the border on the morning of Oct. 7, with whom it did not have a prior relationship,” the agency said in a statement. “The photographs published by Reuters were taken two hours after Hamas fired rockets across southern Israel and more than 45 minutes after Israel said gunmen had crossed the border.”
“Reuters staff journalists were not on the ground at the locations referred to in the Honest Reporting article,” Reuters added.
www.ynetnews.com
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torontosun.com
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has accused the photojournalists of being 'accomplices in crimes against humanity'
Author of the article:Spiro Papuckoski
Published Nov 09, 2023 • Last updated 1 day ago • 3 minute read
Journalists working with Western media were allegedly embedded with Hamas forces as the militants staged a deadly terrorist attack in Israel last month.
On Wednesday, media watchdog Honest Reporting published a bombshell investigation claiming the rampage on Oct. 7 that killed 1,400 Israeli citizens – mostly civilians – was documented by several photojournalists who had ties to the Associated Press and Reuters news agencies, as well as the New York Times and CNN.
The outlet alleges the photographers knew the attack was coming and participated in it.
The photos, obtained by the wire services, show Hamas fighters storming an Israeli kibbutz and abducting civilians back to Gaza.
In one image, the body of an Israeli soldier was partially seen in the back of a pickup truck with armed Hamas militants.
A burning Israeli tank was also photographed on the Israeli side of the border.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu slammed the photojournalists following the report, calling them “accomplices in crimes against humanity” and pointing out “their actions were contrary to professional ethics.”
Dr. Shlomo Karhi, Israel’s Minister of Communications, sent a blistering letter to the news organizations demanding a thorough response to the accusations.
“Terrorists disguised as journalists? I demanded immediate clarifications from the international media bodies published in the investigation,” he shared on social media site X.
According to a report on Ynet News, an English news site based in Israel, AP had decided to cut ties with one journalist, who was photographed next to an Israeli tank.
“We are no longer working with Hassan Eslaiah, who had been an occasional freelancer for AP and other international news organizations in Gaza,” their statement said.
Ynet News also reported CNN had suspended its ties with Eslaiah.
“We are aware of the article and photo concerning Hassan Eslaiah, a freelance photojournalist who has worked with a number of international and Israeli outlets. While we have not at this time found reason to doubt the journalistic accuracy of the work he has done for us, we have decided to suspend all ties with him.”
However, the New York Times issued a statement standing by its decision to work with freelancer Yousef Masoud, who was employed by AP on Oct. 7 and denied having prior knowledge of the attack.
“Though Yousef was not working for The Times on the day of the attack, he has since done important work for us. There is no evidence for Honest Reporting’s insinuations. Our review of his work shows that he was doing what photojournalists always do during major news events, documenting the tragedy as it unfolded.”
Meanwhile, Reuters has denied having prior knowledge of the attack or that journalists were embedded with Hamas on Oct. 7.
“Reuters acquired photographs from two Gaza-based freelance photographers who were at the border on the morning of Oct. 7, with whom it did not have a prior relationship,” the agency said in a statement. “The photographs published by Reuters were taken two hours after Hamas fired rockets across southern Israel and more than 45 minutes after Israel said gunmen had crossed the border.”
“Reuters staff journalists were not on the ground at the locations referred to in the Honest Reporting article,” Reuters added.
Israel demands action from 4 international news outlets over journalists' presence at scene of massacres
Prime Minster's Office calls them 'accomplices in crimes against humanity', CNN exclusively tells Ynetnews that it has severed ties with Gaza photojournalist Hassan Eslaiah
Broken Borders: AP & Reuters Pictures of Hamas Atrocities Raise Ethical Questions | HonestReporting
On October 7, Hamas terrorists were not the only ones who documented the war crimes they had committed during their deadly rampage across southern Israel.
honestreporting.com
Western media accused of working with journalists embedded with Hamas during attack
Journalists working with Western media were allegedly embedded with Hamas forces as the militants staged a terrorist attack in Israel.
