The media watchdog HonestReporting published an investigative report late on Wednesday showing that journalists from leading news outlets, including The New York Times, AP, Reuters and CNN, joined Hamas terrorists from the Gaza Strip on October 7 to document the horrific events with their cameras.
The organization, which works to expose anti-Israel bias in the foreign press, raised weighty ethical questions in the investigation regarding the presence of those photographers alongside Hamas terrorists.
A breaking expose by @HonestReporting reveals that three freelance journalists who work for major media outlets accompanied Hamas terrorists across the border on Oct 7, and reported from the horrific massacre. Here are a few examples from the report: https://t.co/Nj0SnRbmBW
— Israel ישראל (@Israel) November 9, 2023
Among other things, it begs the question of whether the photographers were aware in advance of the intent to carry out the massacre and how they arrived on the scene so quickly. Did Hamas allow them to be there? Did these news reporters have approval to enter Israel alongside the terrorists? Did the photographers inform their editors that they were accompanying the terrorists as they carried out the attacks against the Israelis?Israel's Foreign Press Association released a statement on Thursday stating that, "The Foreign Press Association is extremely concerned that recent Israeli government statements can encourage incitement against journalists documenting the war. The Foreign Press Association has full confidence in the news organization’s investigations."
CNN freelance journalist broadcasted images of Hamas infiltration
According to the investigation, the photographers documented up close the kidnapping of civilians and soldiers, an attack on a tank, and the lynching of an IDF soldier. In addition, a CNN freelance journalist broadcasted images of the burning tank and accompanied the terrorists into Gaza. CNN clarified that on October 7 Hassan Eslaiah was not employed by CNN, nor was any of his footage from that day used by CNN. He was first employed by CNN on October 10.
And here is footage of Eslaiah after he crossed into Israel and took photos of a burning Israeli tank. He then captured infiltrators entering Kibbutz Kfar Azza.Note that he is not identifiable as a member of the press. But AP & CNN deemed it acceptable to use his services. pic.twitter.com/fA0VI2df2i
— HonestReporting (@HonestReporting) November 8, 2023
AP responded: "AP had no advance knowledge of the October 7 attack," said spokesperson Nicole Meyer. "AP's role is to capture news and images from events happening worldwide, at any point, even if they are terrible and involve victims.
"AP uses photos from freelancers from all over, including Gaza," she said.The New York Times responded to the allegations by claiming that, "the accusation that anyone at The New York Times had advance knowledge of the Hamas attacks or accompanied Hamas terrorists during the attacks is untrue and outrageous. It is reckless to make such allegations, putting our journalists on the ground in Israel and Gaza at risk.
"The advocacy group Honest Reporting has made vague allegations about several freelance photojournalists working in Gaza, including Yousef Masoud. 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."
In the hours following our expose, new material is still coming to light concerning Gazan freelance journalist Hassan Eslaiah whom both AP & CNN used on Oct. 7.Here he is pictured with Hamas leader and mastermind of the Oct. 7 massacre, Yahya Sinwar. https://t.co/S9pXeIGaFq pic.twitter.com/RmEZU5RsM8
— HonestReporting (@HonestReporting) November 8, 2023
Journalists Association of Jerusalem raises issue of 'complicity' in Hamas's crimes
The Journalists Association of Jerusalem stated, "If indeed representatives of news agencies and significant networks were aware in advance of the expected massacre, it raises initial concerns about complicity in a crime or failure to prevent the murder.
"The investigation raises difficult ethical questions, not only about the behavior of those on the ground but also of the network and news agency executives," the statement continued. "The question is whether they knew about Hamas's intent and still gave it their tacit approval.
"We urge them to conduct a thorough investigation to examine what they knew before the massacre and whether a different course of action on their part could have saved the lives of many innocent people. We demand that they publish their findings as soon as possible, just as they disseminated the reports and horrific images."
The National Public Diplomacy Directorate in the Prime Minister's Office stated that it "views with utmost gravity that photojournalists working with international media joined in covering the brutal acts of murder perpetrated by Hamas terrorists on October 7th in the communities adjacent to the Gaza Strip.
"These journalists were accomplices in crimes against humanity; their actions were contrary to professional ethics," the directorate said. "Overnight the GPO issued an urgent letter to the bureau chiefs of the media organizations that employed these photographers and sought clarifications on the matter. The National Public Diplomacy Directorate demands that immediate action be taken."
Communications Minister Dr. Shlomo Karhi contacted CNN, Reuters, The New York Times, and the AP on Thursday in light of the report, saying "The gravity of the situation demands a swift and thorough response. It is now a time for individuals, journalists, institutions, unions, and organizations around the world to make a clear choice. We must decide whether we stand on the side of life and good or on the side of depraved terrorism, inhumanity, and evil."
Reuters denies it had prior knowledge of Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel
International news organization Reuters denied on Thursday any suggestion it had prior knowledge of the October 7 attack by Hamas on Israeli civilians and soldiers, in a statement responding to the report by HonestReporting.
"We are aware of a report by HonestReporting and accusations made against two freelance photographers who contributed to Reuters coverage of the October attack," Reuters said.
"Reuters categorically denies that it had prior knowledge of the attack or that we embedded journalists with Hamas on October 7," the news agency said.
"Reuters acquired photographs from two Gaza-based freelance photographers who were at the border on the morning of October 7, with whom it did not have a prior relationship. 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 HonestReporting article."