Al Jazeera decries ‘unfounded’ Israeli claims about its Gaza journalists

Al Jazeera has powerfully rejected a assertion by the Israeli subject that six of its journalists based successful Gaza are members of the Palestinian groups Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ).

The media web connected Wednesday vehemently condemned the “unfounded allegations” by the Israeli army, which successful a station connected X described immoderate of the named Al Jazeera Arabic correspondents arsenic “operatives” moving for Hamas’s equipped helping to beforehand the group’s “propaganda” successful the besieged and bombarded enclave.

The six named journalists are Anas al-Sharif, Talal Aruki, Alaa Salama, Hosam Shabat, Ismail Farid, and Ashraf Saraj.

The subject published “documents” that it claims beryllium the “integration of Hamas terrorists within” Al Jazeera. It claimed the papers amusement lists of radical who person completed grooming courses and salaries.

“Al Jazeera categorically rejects the Israeli concern forces’ portrayal of our journalists arsenic terrorists and denounces their usage of fabricated evidence,” the web said successful a statement.

“The Network views these fabricated accusations arsenic a blatant effort to soundlessness the fewer remaining journalists successful the region, thereby obscuring the harsh realities of the warfare from audiences worldwide,” the connection read.

It said the “baseless” accusations came pursuing a caller study by its investigative portion that revealed imaginable warfare crimes committed by Israeli forces during the continuing battle connected Gaza, wherever much than 42,000 Palestinians person been killed – galore of them women and children.

Al Jazeera said its correspondents person been reporting from bluish Gaza and documenting the dire humanitarian concern unfolding “as the sole planetary media” outlet there.

Israel has severely restricted entree to Gaza for planetary media outlets since it launched its battle connected the Palestinian territory connected October 7, 2023, successful effect to a Hamas-led onslaught connected confederate Israel.

Northern Gaza has been nether siege for 19 days arsenic Israeli forces proceed a renewed crushed violative successful the area. Some 770 radical person been killed successful Jabalia since the renewed battle began, according to the Gaza Government Media Office, with Israel blocking the introduction of assistance and nutrient from reaching immoderate 400,000 radical trapped successful the area.

‘Wider signifier of hostility’

“The Network sees these accusations arsenic portion of a wider signifier of hostility towards Al Jazeera, stemming from its unwavering committedness to broadcasting the unvarnished information astir the concern successful Gaza and elsewhere.”

Last month, Israeli forces raided Al Jazeera’s bureau successful Ramallah successful the occupied West Bank and ordered its contiguous closure following the determination by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s furniture successful May 2024 to unopen down Al Jazeera’s operations wrong Israel.

Israeli forces person killed astatine slightest 3 Al Jazeera journalists successful Gaza since October past year.

In July, Al Jazeera Arabic writer Ismail al-Ghoul and his cameraman Rami al-Rifi were killed successful an Israeli aerial onslaught connected the Shati exile camp, westbound of Gaza City. The pair were wearing media vests and determination were identifying signs connected their conveyance erstwhile they were attacked.

In December, Al Jazeera Arabic journalist Samer Abudaqa was killed successful an Israeli onslaught successful confederate Gaza’s Khan Younis. Al Jazeera’s Gaza bureau chief, Wael Dahdouh, was besides wounded successful that attack.

Dadouh’s wife, son, girl and grandson had been killed successful an Israeli aerial raid connected the Nuseirat exile campy successful October past year.

In January, Dahdouh’s son, Hamza, who was besides an Al Jazeera journalist, was killed successful an Israeli rocket onslaught successful Khan Younis.

Prior to the warfare connected Gaza, seasoned Al Jazeera analogous Shireen Abu Akleh was changeable dormant by Israeli forces arsenic she covered an Israeli raid successful Jenin successful the West Bank successful May 2022.

While Israel has acknowledged 1 of its soldiers apt fatally changeable Abu Akleh, it has not pursued immoderate transgression probe implicit the killing.

According to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), astatine slightest 128 journalists and media workers person been killed successful Israeli attacks successful Gaza since the warfare began.

The property state watchdog said past twelvemonth that Israel’s warfare connected Gaza is the deadliest successful modern past for journalists.

In its report, CPS drew attraction to what it called “an evident signifier of targeting of journalists and their families by the Israeli military”.

Palestinian reporters successful Gaza proceed to enactment nether gruelling conditions, facing changeless bombardment, displacement and imaginable targeting by Israeli forces.

In its statement, Al Jazeera called connected the planetary assemblage to enactment with the “utmost urgency” to support the lives of the six journalists, adding that it stands steadfast successful its content that “journalism is not a crime”.