Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday tore into the mainstream Western media for working with photojournalists embedded with Hamas — calling them “complicit in crimes against humanity” — as CNN officially cut ties with a freelancer who was photographed getting a kiss from the group’s leader the terrorist.
Netanyahu’s office tweeted Thursday that it “views with great gravity that photojournalists working with international media participated in covering the brutal killings committed by Hamas terrorists on October 7.
“This journalist is complicit in crimes against humanity; their actions are against professional ethics,” the leader said – demanding “immediate action be taken” by the stores that helped recruit them.
The outrage follows a major investigation by media watchdog Honest Reporting into journalists who were there to document the October 7 surprise attack that killed more than 1,400 people, with more than 240 others held hostage.
Overnight, the Israeli Minister of Communications Dr. Shlomo Karhi issued a scathing letter to outlets named in the investigation — Reuters, The Associated Press, CNN, and The New York Times.
Hassan Eslaiah posted a video on October 7 that showed the diversion of Israeli tanks. Hassan Eslaiah Hassan Eslaiah, AP/CNN photographer, with Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar in an undated photo.Hassan Eslaiah
“The severity of the situation requires a quick and thorough response. Now is the time for individuals, journalists, institutions, trade unions and organizations around the world to make a clear choice,” he wrote in the letter, which he shared on X.
“We must decide whether we are on the side of life and goodness and on the side of depraved, inhuman and evil violence.”
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An indictment published late Wednesday accused a handful of photojournalists of being too close to the terror group, suggesting they were there for the Oct. 7 attack that shocked Israel. Many were seen without press identification at the time.
Benny Gantz, member of the Israeli war cabinet, said that “Journalists who know about the massacre, who remain silent and take pictures” are “no different than terrorists.”
CNN was the first to cut ties with one of those it identified — even while standing by its work for them.
The freelancer, Hassan Eslaiah, was even pictured smiling as he received a kiss on the cheek from Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, now known as “Butcher Khan Younis.”
Palestinians transport captured Israeli civilians (center) from Kibbutz Kfar Azza to the Gaza Strip on Saturday, Oct. 7. 2023. AP Palestinians celebrate by a destroyed Israeli tank at the fence of the Gaza Strip east of Khan Younis.AP
“We are aware of articles and photos about Hassan Eslaiah, a freelance photojournalist who has worked with several international and Israeli outlets,” CNN told YnetNews earlier Thursday.
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“While at this time we have found no reason to doubt the journalistic accuracy of the work he has done for us, we have decided to suspend all contact with him.”
Eslaiah – a freelancer who also works for the AP – shared a tweet that has been deleted since the attack that placed him at the scene of the Hamas incursion into Kibbutz Kfar Azza, and did not appear to be wearing a press jacket or helmet, the report claimed.
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Honest Reporting’s screenshot of Eslaiah’s tweet includes a photo of a photographer in front of a burning tank with the caption “Live from inside the Gaza Strip settlement.”
Another photo of the tank on a dusty road outside Khan Younis later appeared on the AP website with credit to Eslaiah, according to Honest Reporting.
The watchdog later updated its initial report with footage that allegedly resurfaced of Eslaiah with a burning tank.
“In the video above, Eslaiah said in Arabic: ‘All the people in this tank have been kidnapped, all the people in the tank have been kidnapped just now by the al-Qassam Brigade [Hamas’ armed wing]as we see with our own eyes,’” claims Honest Reporting.
In addition to Eslaiah, Honest Reporting accused Yousef Masoud, Ali Mahmud, and Hatem Ali of being inside the Hamas attack at the time their work was shared in the AP photo credit.
Masoud’s work has also been linked to The New York Times, says Honest Reporting.
The outlet also named photojournalists Mohammed Fayq Abu Mostafa and Yasser Qudih, whose work was published by Reuters “on the border in time for the Hamas infiltration.”
Abu Mustafa’s gruesome image of the dead bodies of Israeli soldiers being hanged was later named as one of the “Image of the Day” wires.
Hassan Eslaiah shared a photo of Hamas entering Kibbutz Kfar Azza on Oct. 7.
The AP distanced itself from the allegations in a statement issued Thursday.
“The Associated Press did not know about the October 7 attack before it happened. The first photo AP received from any freelancer shows it was taken more than an hour after the attack began,” the statement said.
“No AP personnel were at the border at the time of the attack, nor were AP personnel crossing the border at any time. We no longer work with Hassan Eslaiah, who used to freelance for AP and other international news organizations in Gaza.
אמן היו מעראטיםים שידעו אל הטבח, ששטקו וצילמו את שילדים נטבחו – they are not different from מהמחבלים ודינם חד הוא.
— בני גנצ – Benny Gantz (@gantzbe) November 9, 2023
“AP uses images taken by freelancers around the world. When we receive an independent photo, we take great steps to verify the authenticity of the image and that it shows what is claimed.”
Reuters also denied prior knowledge of the attack.
“We are aware of the report by HonestReporting and the allegations made against two freelance photographers who contributed to Reuters’ coverage of the October 7 attacks,” the statement said.
מחבלים בתחפושת של של מעראטאים? I preached immediate clarifications from media outlets that were published in the media. All those who participated, did not keep in touch, as they did.@CNN @Rueters @nytimes @AP pic.twitter.com/WQ3kq3dTg1
— ??שלמה קראי – Shlomo Karhi (@shlomo_karhi) November 9, 2023
“Reuters categorically denies that it had prior knowledge of the attack or that we embedded journalists with Hamas on Oct. 7. Reuters obtained the photos from two Gaza-based freelance photographers who were at the border on the morning of October 7, with whom it had no previous relationship.
“Reuters staff reporters were not at the location referenced in the HonestReporting article.”
When asked about how much the agency paid its freelancers for the photos it published, Reuters told The Post it “does not discuss financial arrangements” as a “matter of policy.”
The New York Times has finally responded to The Post’s request for comment on the allegations.
“The allegation that anyone at The New York Times had advance knowledge of the Hamas attack or accompanied Hamas terrorists during the attack is untrue and outrageous,” a spokesperson for the outlet said.
“It is reckless to make such allegations, putting our journalists in Israel and Gaza at risk. The Times has extensively covered the October 7 attacks and the war with fairness, impartiality and an ongoing understanding of the complexities of the conflict,” the indictment continued.
“The advocacy group Honest Reporting has made vague allegations about several freelance photojournalists working in Gaza, including Yousef Masoud. Although Yousef was not working for The Times on the day of the attack, he has done important work for us.
“There is no evidence for Honest Reporting satire. Our review of his work shows that he was doing what photojournalists always do during major news events, documenting the tragedy as it happened.”
With Postal wire
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
