Official statements or press releases from the IDF

IDF Alleges Six Al Jazeera Journalists, Including Rocket Unit Head, Are Hamas Operatives

Oct 23, 2024, 02:15 PM

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have announced that they have uncovered documents in the Gaza Strip alleging that six Al Jazeera journalists are operatives in Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) terrorist groups. The journalists named are Anas al-Sharif, Alaa Salameh, Hossam Shabat, Ashraf al-Sarraj, Ismail Abu Omar, and Talal al-Arrouqi. According to the IDF, some hold specific roles within these organizations, including sniper, head of the rocket launching unit, and head of the propaganda unit. The IDF claims that intelligence information and documents found in Gaza confirm their military affiliation. This revelation has prompted calls from figures such as Naftali Bennett for Al Jazeera to be considered a terrorist support organization. The IDF has not published the evidence underlying these claims, and the accused journalists are among the last reporters present in Gaza amid ongoing conflicts.