The international media will have to answer for the intimidation by Hamas of journalists working in Gaza, which has produced a one-sided anti-Israel narrative in the mainstream press, World Jewish Congress (WJC) spokeswoman E.J. Kessler said Wednesday.
“The growing number of reports from journalists testifying to Hamas intimidation are troubling and call into question the veracity of some accounts of the fighting,” Kessler said.
“In addition, the media has not adequately explained why it has not been able to broadcast or print many pictures of Hamas terrorists firing rockets from civilian areas or handling weapons, when thousands of rockets have been fired and weapons used. It was considered a big scoop when, many weeks into the conflict, an Indian TV crew this week released footage of Hamas terrorists firing a rocket in a civilian area.
NDTV, an operator of several Indian broadcaster, released the clip today, showing an incredibly rare glimpse into the terror group’s “military” techniques.
Israel has long argued that Hamas purposefully fires its rockets from civilian locales in an aim to force the IDF’s hand in returning fire at non-military personnel. The result is an unnecessary increase in civilian casualties, which Israel argues Hamas is in favor of, as it builds international support for the Gaza regime and condemnation for the Jewish state.
In the video, viewers can see a rocket launched from deep within a civilian zone, just hours before the 72-hour ceasefire went into place this morning. The video shows the set up of the launch and the aftermath.
‘’How is that possible? What are editors telling their reporters? The media must be held responsible for caving in to the totalitarian pressure of Hamas censorship,” says the WJC spokeswoman.
Among other reports of Hamas intimidation, Italian journalist Gabriele Barbati tweeted on July 29 that he could only reveal the truth that a Hamas rocket hit the UNWRA camp at Shati when he was “Out of #Gaza far from #Hamas retaliation.”
The Jerusalem Post reported recently that two Wall Street Journal reporters deleted tweets that showed Hamas destruction in Gaza and a Russia Today reporter was told to leave after reporting about Hamas rocket fire from a civilian area.
The Jewish Telegraphic Agency has reported the near total absence of pictures of Hamas terrorists.