CNN, AP, Reuters, NY Times published images from 'journalists' embedded with Hamas during Oct 7 massacre

Photographers working with the Associated Press, Reuters, CNN, and the New York Times were allegedly embedded with Hamas as they massacred Israeli civilians on October 7, according to a new report from media watchdog Honest Reporting.

The outlets published photos taken by the photographers of the surprise terrorist attack on the Jewish state. The photos showed terrorists breaking the gates to Kibbutz Kfar Aza, Hamas terrorists taking civilians hostage, and attacking Israeli tanks and cilivians.

The report noted that the Associated Press credited four individuals for images of the attacks; Hassan Eslaiah, Yousef Masoud, Ali Mahmud, and Hatem Ali, all based in Gaza, where in 2021 it was revealed that the outlet shared offices with Hamas.

Eslaiah’s now-deleted social media posts from October 7 show he was “Live from inside the Gaza Strip settlements.” He posted a picture of himself with an Israeli tank that was on fire.

Eslaiah has been photographed getting kissed by one of the chief architects of the deadly Hamas terrorist attacks, which killed over 1,400 during which terrorists took over 200 hostages.

 

Masoud, who also works for The New York Times, was also present in Israeli territory taking photos, while Mahmud and Ali were positioned to get pictures of the kidnappings of civilians, according to Honest Reporting. Mahmud even photographed the pickup truck carrying the body of German-Israeli Shani Louk who was brutalized before being killed. Her body was spat on while it was paraded around.

The report raised serious questions about awareness the Associated Press and other outlets may have had about the massacre before it took place. 

A spokeswoman for the Associated Press told The Post Millennial, “The Associated Press had no knowledge of the Oct. 7 attacks before they happened. The role of the AP is to gather information on breaking news events around the world, wherever they happen, even when those events are horrific and cause mass casualties. AP uses images taken by freelancers around the world, including in Gaza.”

The outlet did not respond when asked what the vetting process was for journalists or photographers.

CNN gave a statement, saying that they would no longer work with that photographer. However, they did not explain what they knew about the attack and when. 

"We are aware of the article and photo concerning Hassan Eslaiah, a freelance photojournalist who has worked with a number of international and Israeli outlets. While we have not at this time found reason to doubt the journalistic accuracy of the work he has done for us, we have decided to suspend all ties with him," CNN said.

Reuters said "We are aware of a report by HonestReporting and accusations made against two freelance photographers who contributed to Reuter's coverage of the Oct. 7 attack. 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 photographs published by Reuters were taken two hours after Hamas fired rockets across southern Israel, and more than 45 minutes after Israel said gunmen had crossed the border. Reuters staff journalists were not on the ground at the locations referred to in the HonestReporting article. Reuters is committed to reporting news fairly accurately and independently, in keeping with the Thomson Reuters Trust Principles."

The New York Times, which has worked with the photographers in the report, did not respond to requests for comment.

"Is it conceivable to assume that 'journalists' just happened to appear early in the morning at the border without prior coordination with the terrorists? Or were they part of the plan?" Honest Reporting asks.

"Even if they didn’t know the exact details of what was going to happen, once it unfolded did they not realize they were breaching a border? And if so, did they notify the news agencies? Some sort of communication was undoubtedly necessary — before, after or during the attack —  in order to get the photos published."

Since the Honest Reporting piece was published, other “journalists” have been exposed.

Nidal Alwaheidi, a “journalist from Gaza,” has been detained by the Israeli Defense Forces, according to the family.

As the surprise attacks began, Alwaheidi was tweeting about missiles and referring to the "coordination" that would allow him to film in Sderot, a town in Israel.

While Hamas terrorists were executing, torturing, raping, and kidnapping civilians, he posted, "This is the day of judgment" with a photo of military-aged men on a military vehicle cheering with excitement & "Praise be to god who revived us for this moment."

Another "Gazan journalist," Bayan AbuSultan, wrote "Blessed October 7th to all" as the massacre was unfolding.

She posted concern about Alwaheidi's whereabouts after the attacks. The rest of her social channels expose her excitement for the Oct 7 Hamas massacre of civilians.

The media has been quick to jump on false statements and inflated casualty reports from Hamas and publish them as fact without verifying the details. The most egregious example was the aforementioned outlets publishing a claim from Hamas that an Israeli strike had impacted a hospital in Gaza, killing 500.

It was shortly thereafter revealed that the explosion occurred in the hospital's parking lot from a misfired terrorist rocket, and no body count was ever verified. The New York Times is currently publishing stories from a Gaza journalist who admires Adolf Hitler.

Veteran Israeli journalist Gill Hoffman, who operates Honest Reporting, and who spent decades working as a correspondent for the Jerusalem Post, said the “audience deserves to know” how these photographers knew about the terrorist attacks before they happened, even with Israeli civilians being caught completely by surprise.

He said, “When international news agencies decide to pay for material that has been captured under such problematic circumstances, their standards may be questioned and their audience deserves to know about it. And if their people on the ground actively or passively collaborated with Hamas to get the shots, they should be called out to redefine the border between journalism and barbarism.”