The accusations against the photo reporters seemed massive: last week, an interest group raised the question of whether the photo reporters had advance knowledge of the Hamas terrorist attack on Israel. What is known now about the suspect?
Who is making the accusations?
Last Wednesday, the non-governmental organization HonestReporting published an article on its website titled “Crossing Borders: AP and Portal Images of Hamas Atrocities Raise Ethical Questions.” In the article, the organization writes that on October 7, Hamas terrorists were not the only ones to document the “war crimes” they committed in their attack on southern Israel. Some of the acts were documented by photojournalists from the Gaza Strip. This, says “HonestReporting”, “raises serious ethical questions”.
“HonestReporting” puts it this way: Why were these photo reporters at the event location so early on the morning of October 7th? Was this done in consultation with Hamas? Would the media they worked for approve of their presence in enemy territory alongside terrorists? Would photojournalists have informed the media in advance? In a first entry on the topic
What type of organization is HonestReporting?
HonestReporting was founded 23 years ago by British Jewish students as a mailing list after the New York Times published an image purporting to show a Palestinian boy bleeding as the victim of a club-wielding Israeli soldier. In fact, the image showed a Jewish boy being saved from an angry mob in Jerusalem.
The organization’s mission is to investigate and document inaccuracies, false reports and bias in the media about Israel. It is headed by Gil Hoffman, former chief political correspondent for the Jerusalem Post.
Journalists criticized by the organization have in the past accused HonestReporting of aggressively pursuing its goals and exerting enormous pressure on reporters. However, other journalists described this criticism as anti-Israel.
Who are the charges against?
The charges are specifically directed against a total of six photojournalists, as well as the AP and Portal news agencies, the New York Times and the television station CNN, which released the journalists’ images of the Hamas terrorist attack on Israel. The images were later distributed by other news agencies such as DPA and shown by other broadcasters such as the BBC. tagesschau.de also published a photo of one of the criticized photo reporters, first in the live blog on October 7th, and then in two other reports. On October 7th, the tagesthemen also showed a photo of one of the photographers as a backdrop for an introduction.
The focus is particularly on photo reporter Hassan Eslaiah, who on October 7 took photos of, among other things, a burning Israeli tank and a group of men who stormed Kibbutz Kfar Azzar.
Eslaiah’s name appears in the details of the images that AP offered to its clients. “HonestReporting” also published a screenshot that allegedly comes from Eslaiah’s X account and shows him in front of a burning tank. This image was later deleted from the account, writes “HonestReporting”.
Another image from the report shows Eslaiah in an intimate pose with Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, who is also said to have drawn up plans for the attack on Israel. In the photo, Sinwar pulls a smiling Eslaiah close and plants a kiss on her cheek. The image would be from 2020. The context in which it was created is not clear in the article.
The advocacy group also draws attention to images showing the abduction of soldiers and civilians in the Gaza Strip. The “HonestReporting” article is not about photographing new atrocities against people in the region that were allegedly committed by Hamas terrorists or those close to them on October 7th.
This photo of a hostage kidnapping appeared on October 7th. in the live blog of tagesschau.de. It comes from photographer Hatem Ali, one of the photo reporters mentioned in the “HonestReporting” report.
When were the criticized images of the terrorist attack taken?
There is information about this in the criticized media. The Portal news agency said the published photos were taken by two freelance photographers from the Gaza Strip who were “at the border on the morning of October 7.” Portal had no previous business relationship with them. The images were taken “two hours after Hamas fired rockets into southern Israel” and “more than 45 minutes” after Israel said armed men had crossed the border.
The AP wrote following HonestReporting’s claims that the first images received by the AP were taken “more than an hour after the attacks began.” The New York Times said the photos taken by photographer Yousef Masoud and used by the AP news agency were archived “90 minutes after the attacks began.”
Masoud told his employees that he was woken up by the sound of rockets in Khan Younis at around 6:30 am. He then set off towards the border and saw the damaged border fortifications and burning tanks.
How far are the sites from the Israel-Gaza border?
Following massive rocket fire into southern Israel, Hamas terrorists breached the fortified border in a total of 29 places on October 7, according to the Israeli government. They entered Israel on foot, on motorcycles, pickup trucks and other vehicles, or reached the Israeli side of the border by paragliding or by sea.
One of the places attacked was Kibbutz Kfar Aza, which is only about two kilometers as the crow flies from the border with the Gaza Strip. More than 100 people were murdered here in the terrorist attack. But other kibbutzes and towns equally far from the border were also attacked. Maps of the region show that access to the sites can be done not only by paved roads, but also by dirt roads.
AP Deputy Director Julie Pace therefore speaks of “rapidly evolving development in a very small area”.
Are there any statements from the photographers mentioned?
The New York Times cites a conversation between an anonymous editor and photographer Masoud. He explained that he had seen destroyed facilities and burning tanks at the border, but had not photographed hostage abductions or other atrocities committed by Hamas.
Photo reporter Elaiah explained that he was not informed in advance by Hamas and had no connection with the terrorist organization, despite the photo with Sinwar.
This image by Hassan Eslaiah shows Palestinians leaving Kibbutz Kfar Azza on October 7, 2023. Thick columns of smoke represent the violence carried out there.
How do the affected media react?
AP, Portal and the New York Times firmly rejected the accusations. Portal “categorically” denied having any prior knowledge of the planned Hamas attacks. HonestReporting’s allegations are “irresponsible” and “deeply concerning.” They “would expose journalists working in the region to great risks”.
The AP also said it had “no knowledge” of the attacks in advance. AP Deputy Director Pace emphasizes that it was clear from the first rocket attack on Israel that this was a serious development. The agency then began a “typical information gathering process.” This also included contacting freelance photo reporters.
The New York Times’ reaction was the strongest. Claims that the newspaper had prior knowledge of the terrorist attacks were “false and outrageous”. Such allegations are “unfounded” and would “endanger” the newspaper’s journalists in Israel and the Gaza Strip. Referring to Masoud, the newspaper emphasized that on that day he “did what photojournalists do during major events – documenting the tragedy as it unfolded.”
After the NGO’s publication, AP and CNN stated that they would no longer work with Eslaiah.
What does the Israeli government say?
The Israeli leadership reacted angrily to the HonestReporting report. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wrote in X that journalists were “accomplices in crimes against humanity.”
War Cabinet member Benny Gantz said that if there were journalists “who knew about the massacre, photographed it, and stood by while children were slaughtered, they would be no different from terrorists and should be treated as such.”
Danny Danon, a lawmaker from the ruling Likud party and former Israeli ambassador to the UN, said that “the photojournalists who participated in filming the October 7 massacres are legitimate targets of war.”
Is there any solid evidence to support HonestReporting’s claim?
To date, the organization has not provided any solid evidence. In fact, the NGO now writes on its website that neither Portal nor the AP have been accused of “collusion” with Hamas. But they “rightly raised some serious questions” and asked “important and relevant questions that everyone deserves an answer to.”
The head of the NGO, Hoffman, explained that the explanations of the criticized media were “adequate”. He was “relieved” that everyone said they had no prior knowledge of the attacks. Hoffman also acknowledged that HonestReporting did not contact the AP, Portal, the New York Times or CNN before publishing its report. He called Donan’s threats against photo reporters “shocking.” Some parts of Netanyahu’s reaction were also “clearly not based on facts.”
What do journalists’ associations say?
The Foreign Press Association, an association of international journalists in Israel, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, said it had full confidence in the media investigation. She said she was extremely concerned that the Israeli government’s statements could lead to violence against journalists covering the war.