Al Jazeera Rebuffs Israeli Claim that Killed Journalist was Hamas Operative
On April 6, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) made a shocking accusation – they claimed that Yaser Murtaja, a Palestinian journalist who was killed by Israeli forces during the Great March of Return protests in Gaza, was actually a member of Hamas. This allegation came as a surprise to many, as Murtaja was known for his work as a local journalist and had no known ties to any militant groups.
The IDF released a statement on Twitter, saying that Murtaja was “an active operative of the Hamas terrorist organization, operating under the cover of a media outlet.” This claim was quickly picked up by Israeli media outlets, which ran headlines declaring that Murtaja was a “terrorist posing as a journalist.”
The accusation sparked outrage and condemnation from journalists and media organizations around the world. Many saw it as an attempt by the Israeli government to discredit and delegitimize the work of journalists covering the ongoing conflict in Gaza. However, perhaps the most powerful response came from Al Jazeera, the news network that Murtaja had been working for at the time of his death.
Al Jazeera’s Response
In a statement released on April 7, Al Jazeera vehemently refuted the IDF’s claim that Murtaja was a member of Hamas. The network called the accusation “completely.
Source: BBC
