News Agencies Refute Foreknowledge of Hamas Attack Following Israeli Government's Request for Clarification on Inaccurate Coverage
News outlets firmly refute Israeli government's allegations of prior knowledge regarding Hamas attack Media organizations dismiss a poorly substantiated report from a biased monitoring group, asserting their credibility and maintaining their lack of awareness about the impending assault
Four news organizations vehemently denied any prior knowledge of the Hamas terror attack on October 7th, following demands from the Israeli government for an explanation. These news outlets include The Associated Press, Reuters, The New York Times, and CNN. The credibility of these organizations came under scrutiny due to a report from HonestReporting, a media monitoring group with a clear agenda, which insinuated that the news organizations were aware of the imminent attack. The report cited screenshots posted on social media, claiming that photographers from these news outlets were present during the attack.
Two outlets, the Associated Press and CNN, have stated that they no longer work with freelance photographer Hassan Eslaiah after he was identified as being present with Hamas militants during the attack on the Jewish state. According to Lauren Easton, the director of media relations for the Associated Press, they had no knowledge of the Oct. 7 attacks prior to them occurring. The first pictures they received from any freelancer were taken over an hour after the attacks had started. Furthermore, the AP staff was not present at the border during the attacks, and did not cross the border at any time.
"Hassan Eslaiah, who had been an occasional freelancer for AP and other international news organizations in Gaza, is no longer affiliated with us," stated Easton.
CNN stated that Eslaiah was not employed by the network on the day of the attack.
A spokesperson for CNN stated that they had no knowledge of the attacks on October 7th. They clarified that Hassan Eslaiah, a freelance journalist who had worked for multiple outlets including CNN, was not associated with the network on that day. They further mentioned that all ties with him have been cut.
Reuters countered any suggestions that they were aware of the Hamas planned assault on Israel.
A spokesperson for Reuters firmly denies any prior knowledge of the attack or the inclusion of journalists with Hamas on Oct. 7. They also clarify that the published photographs were captured two hours after Hamas launched rockets into southern Israel and over 45 minutes after Israel reported armed individuals crossing the border. Additionally, the spokesperson states that Reuters staff journalists were not present at the specific locations mentioned in the HonestReporting article.
The New York Times responded to the allegations made against freelance photographer Yousef Massoud, as mentioned in the report by HonestReportings.
According to the company, even though Yousef was not working for The Times on the day of the attack, he has contributed valuable work subsequently. They dismissed the insinuations made by HonestReportings, stating that there is no evidence to support their claims. The company's review of Yousef's work during major news events indicates that he was fulfilling his role as a photojournalist by documenting the unfolding tragedy.
News organizations often obtain video and photographs from freelancers located in war-torn regions for their coverage. These freelancers, who work as independent contractors, are not employed by the companies to which they provide their services or material.
HonestReporting has gained a reputation for frequently making serious and misleading accusations against the news media.
The Israeli government, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has been confrontational with the media, intended to leverage HonestReportings' story in order to support the unfounded claim that news outlets had prior knowledge of the terrorist attack.
In a statement posted on X, previously known as Twitter, the Israeli prime minister's office asserted, "These journalists were complicit in crimes against humanity, and their actions contradicted professional ethics." On Thursday, the Government Press Office promptly sent a letter to the heads of media organizations employing these photographers, seeking clarification on the issue.
Netanyahu's office spokesperson did not promptly address a comment request.
Benny Gantz, a member of Israel's war cabinet, also raised doubts about journalists' foreknowledge of the attack in light of the report.
"Those journalists who were aware of the massacre but decided to remain passive spectators while innocent children were brutally killed are indistinguishable from terrorists and should be dealt with accordingly," he stated on X.
The Committee to Protect Journalists criticized the Israeli government's language, cautioning that it may endanger media professionals.
Gypsy Guillén Kaiser, CPJ's advocacy and communications director, stated that it is outrageous and irresponsible to attempt to smear, delegitimize, and criminalize journalists who are simply doing their job. Such actions not only put journalists at further risk but also endanger them by targeting them with disinformation.
