CNN ends relationship with freelancer over allegations of Hamas embedding.
OAN’s Sophia Flores
1:17 PM – Friday, November 10, 2023
CNN has now severed ties with a freelance Gaza photojournalist due to allegations of his association with the Islamic terrorist group Hamas.
The photojournalist in question, Hassan Eslaiah, has reportedly been providing photographs of the conflict to CNN and other outlets since the Hamas attack on October 7th.
In the photos he shared of Hamas’ incursion into Kibbutz Kfar Azza and a burning tank at the border, Eslaiah can be seen without protective gear, indicating his role as a member of the press.
An exposé from the media watchdog group Honest Reporting raised questions about how freelance photojournalists like Eslaiah were able to capture such images while the invasion was ongoing and dangerous.
The watchdog group suggested that the photographers may have been embedded with the terrorist group and had prior knowledge of the attack. This allegation raised concerns about the integrity of their reporting.
AP, Reuters, and The New York Times have denied having prior knowledge of the attack. Despite finding no issues with the accuracy of Eslaiah’s work, many publications have chosen to sever ties with him.
“The Associated Press had no knowledge of the Oct. 7 attacks before they happened. The first pictures AP received from any freelancer show they were taken more than an hour after the attacks began,” the statement read. “No AP staff were at the border at the time of the attacks, nor did any AP staffer cross the border at any time. We are no longer working with Hassan Eslaiah, who had been an occasional freelancer for AP and other international news organizations in Gaza.”
“Reuters categorically denies that it had prior knowledge of the attack or that we embedded journalists with Hamas on Oct 7. Reuters acquired photographs from two Gaza-based freelance photographers who were at the border on the morning of Oct. 7, with whom it did not have a prior relationship,” the outlet stated. “Reuters staff journalists were not on the ground at the locations referred to in the Honest Reporting article.”
The New York Times similarly responded to the claims and dismissed the allegations made by the pro-Israel group as “vague insinuations.”
Eslaiah is now facing backlash after photos emerged of him alongside Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar. The image shows him receiving a kiss on the cheek from the notorious “Butcher of Khan Younis.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu took to X, the platform formally known as Twitter, to condemn the photojournalists involved as “accomplices in crimes against humanity.”
Benny Gantz, a member of Israel’s war cabinet, stated that the “journalists who knew about the massacre, who remained silent and took pictures” were “no different from the terrorists.”
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Why have other media organizations chosen to sever ties with Eslaiah despite finding no issues with the accuracy of his work
CNN Severs Ties with Gaza Photojournalist Due to Alleged Hamas Association
CNN has recently cut ties with a freelance photojournalist in Gaza after allegations arose regarding his association with the Islamic terrorist group, Hamas.
The photojournalist in question, Hassan Eslaiah, has reportedly been providing photographs of the conflict to CNN and other media outlets since the Hamas attack on October 7th. In the photos he shared of Hamas’ incursion into Kibbutz Kfar Azza and a burning tank at the border, Eslaiah can be seen without protective gear, indicating his role as a member of the press.
A recent exposé from the media watchdog group Honest Reporting has raised questions about how freelance photojournalists like Eslaiah were able to capture such images while the invasion was ongoing and dangerous. The group suggests that these photographers may have been embedded with the terrorist group and had prior knowledge of the attack. This allegation has raised concerns about the integrity of their reporting.
While publications like AP, Reuters, and The New York Times have denied having prior knowledge of the attack, many have chosen to sever ties with Eslaiah. Despite finding no issues with the accuracy of Eslaiah’s work, these organizations want to distance themselves from any potential associations with Hamas.
In response to the allegations, the Associated Press released a statement affirming that they had no knowledge of the October 7th attacks before they occurred. The statement also mentioned that the first pictures they received from any freelancer were taken more than an hour after the attacks began. The AP further clarified that none of their staff were present at the border during the attacks and that they are no longer working with Hassan Eslaiah.
The decision to sever ties with Eslaiah highlights the ethical challenges faced by media organizations when working with freelance journalists in conflict zones. It underscores the importance of ensuring that journalists maintain independence and do not have affiliations that could compromise their reporting.
This incident serves as a reminder for media outlets to exercise caution and conduct thorough background checks when collaborating with freelance journalists in conflict areas. Upholding journalistic integrity is crucial for maintaining public trust and accurately informing the global community about ongoing conflicts.
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