This organization nominated four freelance photographers, including CNN, NYT, AP, and Reuters.
Claimed, “On the day of the attack, I followed Hamas fighters and filmed the massacre site.”
This government sends a letter requesting explanation… The media company said, “I was never aware of it.”
The Israeli government criticized on the 9th (local time) the claim that photographers in the Gaza Strip from the New York Times (NYT), CNN, Associated Press and Britain’s Reuters were aware of Hamas’ attack on Israel in advance on the 7th of last month. POLITICO reported.
However, the media outlets that were criticized strongly condemned the Israeli government’s accusations, with the NYT in particular saying that the “angry” accusations had put journalists in Israel and the Gaza Strip at risk.
Israeli Information Minister Shlomo Karhi criticized foreign media outlets for hiring journalists who had been informed of Hamas attacks in advance. He wrote on social media
Israeli government communications director Nichan Chen sent letters to the Israeli bureau chiefs of four media outlets demanding an explanation for the actions of four photographers during the attack by Hamas fighters.
The letter accuses the photographers of “arriving with Hamas terrorists at the Israeli border to film massacres of Israeli civilians, assaults on soldiers, and kidnappings in Gaza.” It also included a request to clarify the media company’s position on the “shocking contents” revealed the previous day by the pro-Israel non-profit organization Honest Reporting.
‘Honest Reporting’ raised the question that the photojournalists in question were aware of Hamas’ attack plan in advance and waited on the morning of the attack to take close-up photos of the actions of Hamas fighters.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office went further, accusing journalists of “complicit in crimes against humanity” for filming the attack without preventing it.
Benny Gantz, a centrist politician, also said that journalists who were at the scene of the massacre said, “Just watching the massacre of children as bystanders is no different from a terrorist act and should be treated accordingly.”
Honest Reporting said that two of the four photographers, two of whom were freelance journalists who took the Associated Press photos, were employed by CNN and the NYT, and that Reuters published photos of two other photographers who were at the border during the Hamas infiltration.
Israel’s government information office issued a statement to .
◆Rebuttal from the relevant media outlets
Immediately after the Israeli government’s condemnation, Reuters, AP, and NYT issued statements denying the attack, saying, “We had no prior knowledge of the attack.”
Reuters specifically rejected claims by Israeli groups that they were hiring photojournalists affiliated with Hamas. Reuters stated that the photos were “obtained from two Gaza freelance photographers who were at the border on the morning of the incident,” and emphasized that Reuters had no prior relationship with them.
“The photos published by Reuters were taken two hours after Hamas fired rockets into southern Israel and 45 minutes after Israel said its fighters had crossed the border,” the Reuters reporter explained, adding, “Israeli groups “Honest Reporting was not at the scene mentioned,” he said.
AP said, “We were not aware of Hamas’ attack on October 7 in advance. The first photos AP received from a freelancer were taken more than an hour after the attack began. “AP reporters were not present at the time of the attack and have not crossed the border since.”
AP said, “Hassan Eslaiah, one of the photojournalists identified by ‘Honest Reporting,’ has been working as a freelancer for AP and other foreign media outlets in the Gaza Strip,” and added, “We no longer employ him.” ‘Honest Reporting’ revealed footage of Eslaia smiling while kissing Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar.
The NYT condemned the accusation of ‘honest reporting’ as “untrue and shocking,” saying it “endangers journalists in Israel and the Gaza Strip.” The NYT also criticized “‘Honest Reporting’ for making ambiguous claims about freelance reporters working in the Gaza Strip, including Youssef Massoud,” and added, “Reporter Massoud was not employed by the NYT on the day of the Hamas attack, but made a ‘significant contribution’ to the NYT.” “I have done it,” he said.
CNN did not issue a statement but withdrew its employment with reporter Eslaia.
A CNN spokesperson said: “We are aware of articles and photos related to Hassan Eslaiah, a freelance photojournalist who has worked with a number of foreign and Israeli media outlets, and we currently have no grounds to doubt the accuracy of the articles he sent us. “I have decided to end all relationships with him,” he said.
Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.