Al Jazeera condemns killing of journalist in Israeli strike on Gaza

The Al Jazeera Media Network logo is seen on its headquarters building in Doha, Qatar June 8, 2017. (REUTERS)
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Updated 16 December 2024
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Al Jazeera condemns killing of journalist in Israeli strike on Gaza

  • “Al Jazeera unequivocally condemns the ongoing crimes committed by Israeli occupation forces against journalists and media professionals in Gaza,” the channel said

DOHA, Qatar: Qatar-based Al Jazeera condemned the Sunday killing of one of its journalists in an Israeli strike on Gaza, calling the death a “targeted killing” in a statement.
He is the fifth Al Jazeera journalist to be killed since the war in Gaza began more than 14 months ago.
“Al Jazeera Media Network condemns in the strongest terms the killing of its cameraman,




Ahmad Baker Al-Louh. (Photo/Facebook)

, 39, by the Israeli occupation forces,” the channel said.
“He was brutally killed in an air strike that targeted a Civil Defense post in the market area of Al-Nuseirat Camp, central Gaza Strip,” it added.
The Israeli military confirmed in a statement it had killed Louh, saying he was a member of Islamic Jihad and “previously served as a platoon commander” for the militant group.
Israel’s military has repeatedly accused journalists from the Al Jazeera of links to Hamas or its ally Islamic Jihad. Al Jazeera has fiercely denied these accusations and said Israel systematically targets its employees in the Gaza Strip.
The military said it struck a “command and control center embedded in the offices of the civil defense organization in Nuseirat,” targeting “Hamas and Islamic Jihad terrorists.” It said the center was used to target Israeli troops.
Gaza’s civil defense agency spokesman Mahmud Bassal confirmed Louh had been killed in the strike on the Nuseirat camp that also claimed the lives of three members of Bassal’s rescue agency.
Bassal told AFP a warplane had “targeted the Civil Defense site in Nuseirat camp.”
In a statement, the Palestinian militant group Hamas called Louh’s killing an “assassination” and a “war crime,” describing it as “part of a systematic targeting of journalists in Gaza, aimed at intimidating them and deterring them.”

Al Jazeera said Louh’s killing came “just days after the targeting of his house” by Israeli forces who “utterly destroyed” it.
“Al Jazeera unequivocally condemns the ongoing crimes committed by Israeli occupation forces against journalists and media professionals in Gaza,” the channel said.
The network added it would “pursue all legal measures to prosecute the perpetrators” of these crimes.
Since the start of the war in the Palestinian territory on October 7 last year, Al Jazeera has aired continuous on-the-ground reporting on the effects of Israel’s campaign.
The global channel, since before the war, has been the focus of long-running feud with the Israeli government which has repeatedly accused journalists from Al Jazeera of links to Hamas or its ally Islamic Jihad.
In September, Israeli forces raided Al Jazeera’s office in the West Bank, with Israel’s military saying the Ramallah bureau had been “used to incite terror” and “support terrorist activities.”
Al Jazeera called the Israeli raid “a criminal act” and an attack on press freedom.
In April, the Israeli parliament passed a law allowing the banning of foreign media broadcasts deemed harmful to state security.
Based on this law, Israel’s government on May 5 approved the decision to ban Al Jazeera from broadcasting from Israel and close its offices.
In September, armed and masked Israeli forced raided Al Jazeera’s West bank office and issued an initial closure order.
Israel’s military said the Ramallah office was “used to incite terror” and “support terrorist activities,” and Al Jazeera’s broadcasts endangered Israel’s security.
The New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists earlier on Sunday said the Israel-Hamas war “has taken an unprecedented toll on Gazan journalists.”
The watchdog said CPJ’s preliminary investigations showed at least 137 journalists and media workers have been killed in Gaza, the West Bank, Israel and Lebanon since October 7, 2023.

 

 


Lebanese journalist appointed presidency spokesperson

Updated 17 January 2025
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Lebanese journalist appointed presidency spokesperson

  • Charafeddine is one of two women appointed to the president’s team

DUBAI: Lebanese journalist Najat Charafeddine has been appointed as spokesperson for the presidency, the first woman to hold such a position.

Charafeddine is one of two women appointed to the president’s team, an unprecedented move announced a week after the election of Lebanese President Joseph Aoun.

Diplomat Jeanne Mrad, who serves at Lebanon’s permanent mission to the United Nations, has been appointed as an adviser for diplomatic affairs at the presidency.

The appointments were hailed by the Lebanese media as a step toward empowering women on the political scene.

Charafeddine, a native of the southern Lebanese town of Taybeh in the Marjeyoun district, holds a bachelor’s degree in communication and media studies from the Lebanese University, and lectured for three years at Antonine University.

She started her career at Future TV, where she worked for 20 years between 1993 and 2013. She first appeared to the public as a news anchor before hosting the programs “Why Taif?” and “Transit.”

Her success in Lebanon paved the way for international reporting. She covered the wars in Afghanistan (2001) and Iraq (2003) as a correspondent for Future TV. Charafeddine also reported on several international conferences and participated in political and media forums in Washington, London, Jordan, Tunisia, Morocco, and other countries.

In 2015, Charafeddine moved to Al-Araby TV, where she hosted programs such as “Arab Neighbors” and “Special Dialogue” until 2018. Later, she continued her career in radio, presenting the political program “Sunday Encounter” on Voice of All Lebanon radio.

In addition to her broadcast work, Sharafeddine has written articles for publications such as As-Safir, Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, and Al-Shiraa magazine.

She is the wife of former Finance Minister Ghazi Wazni, who was chosen by Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri in the government of Hassan Diab.


Abdel Latif El-Menawy appointed CEO of News and Journalism at United Media Services

Updated 17 January 2025
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Abdel Latif El-Menawy appointed CEO of News and Journalism at United Media Services

DUBAI: United Media Services (UMS) has appointed acclaimed Egyptian journalist, Abdel Latif El-Menawy, as the CEO of News and Journalism.

The decision aligns with the company’s development strategy, spearheaded by Chairman Tarek Nour, which aims to enhance the performance of news channels, newspapers, and digital platforms, UMS said in a statement.

El-Menawy is a prominent journalist and writer with a daily column in Al-Masry Al-Youm and articles in Arab News. He also contributes to other regional and international publications. He served as Managing Director and Editor-in-Chief of Al-Masry Al-Youm until October 2023, when he decided to dedicate more time to writing and research.

Previously, El-Menawy was Head of the News Sector at Egyptian Television and the founding director of Al-Ghad News Channel. He also served as Managing Editor at Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper.

In addition to his journalistic work, El-Menawy has hosted current affairs television programs and is a member of the judging panel for the International Emmy Awards. He also serves on the board of the International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences in New York.

El-Menawy is the author of several books, including the notable "18 Days... The Final Days of Mubarak's Rule" and his most recent work, "The Copts: An Investigation of the Roots of the Conflict Between Muslims and Copts in Egypt". His other works, primarily in Arabic, explore topics such as political Islam, the Copts in Egypt, and various political and social issues.

Established in May 2016, UMS owns several TV channels and networks, including general channels dmc – ON, CBC, Al-Hayat, specialized sports channels ON Time, and news channels Al Qahera News – Extra News.


Journalists berate Blinken over Gaza policy at his final press conference

Security personnel forcibly pick up Sam Husseini and carry him out of the room as he heckles Secretary Blinken.(@ryangrim)
Updated 16 January 2025
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Journalists berate Blinken over Gaza policy at his final press conference

  • “Criminal! You belong in The Hague,” shouted Sam Husseini, an independent journalist and longtime critic of Washington’s approach to the world

WASHINGTON: Several journalists who are outspoken critics of US support for Israel loudly lambasted US Secretary of State Antony Blinken over the war in Gaza on Thursday, repeatedly interrupting his final press conference as he sought to defend his handling of the 15-month-old conflict.
Israel’s assault on Gaza is likely to define the foreign policy legacy of the outgoing Biden administration, despite a deal reached with Palestinian militant group Hamas on Wednesday on a ceasefire in exchange for the release of hostages.

“Criminal! Why aren’t you in The Hague,” shouted Sam Husseini, an independent journalist and longtime critic of Washington’s approach to the world. The Hague is where the International Criminal Court is located.
The unusually confrontational scene in the State Department briefing room only ended when security personnel forcibly picked up Husseini and carried him out of the room as he continued to heckle Blinken.
Blinken has faced criticism for providing Israel with weapons and diplomatic support since the latest bloodshed in the decades-old Israeli-Palestinian conflict began on Oct. 7, 2023, when Hamas attacked Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking about 250 hostages, according to Israeli tallies.
Israel’s subsequent military assault on Gaza has killed over 46,000 Palestinians, according to the local health ministry, while also drawing accusations of genocide in a World Court case brought by South Africa and of war crimes and crimes against humanity at the International Criminal Court. Israel denies the allegations. The assault has displaced nearly Gaza’s entire 2.3 million population and drawn the concern of the world’s main hunger monitor.
“Why did you keep the bombs flowing when we had a deal in May?” Max Blumenthal, editor of the Grayzone, an outlet that strongly criticizes many aspects of US foreign policy, called out to Blinken, before he was escorted out.
Blinken, who leaves office on Monday when the administration of President-elect Donald Trump takes over, calmly asked for quiet while he delivered his remarks, and later took questions from reporters.
He has been frequently heckled at appearances in Washington since the Gaza conflict began. Demonstrators camped outside his Virginia home for months and repeatedly threw red paint — resembling blood — on cars carrying Blinken and his family.
Asked during the press conference if he would change anything about his dealings with Israel, Blinken said the Israeli government had carried out policies that “were basically supported by an overwhelming majority of Israelis after the trauma of October 7” and said that had to be factored in to the US response.
The Biden administration had been unable to reach final determinations on individual incidents that could constitute violations of international law because Hamas embedded itself within the civilian population, he said.
“I’d also point out that in Israel itself, there are hundreds of cases that are being investigated,” Blinken said. “They have a process, they have procedures, they have rule of law... That’s the hallmark of any democracy.”


Contest organizers fear for safety of Miss France over Charlie Hebdo controversy

Updated 16 January 2025
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Contest organizers fear for safety of Miss France over Charlie Hebdo controversy

DUBAI: Miss France 2025, Angelique Angarni-Filopon, has come under fire for her apparent lack of solidarity with the French magazine Charlie Hebdo.

On Jan. 7, 2015, two gunmen claiming allegiance to Al-Qaeda stormed the offices of the satirical weekly, killing 12 people.

The attack, which was in retaliation to the magazine’s caricature of the Prophet Muhammad, sparked worldwide debate about the limits of free speech. It resulted in the “Je Suis Charlie” (“I Am Charlie”) slogan being used by supporters of the magazine around the world as a call for the right to freedom of expression.

In a recent radio interview, Angarni-Filopon was asked if she was “Charlie” but she declined to comment.

Her lack of a response sparked a furor online. Charlie Hebdo published a cartoon of three Islamic leaders holding up a sign that read “Je Suis Miss France” (“I Am Miss France”) and the caption “Miss France n’est pas Charlie” (“Miss France is not Charlie”).

Frederic Gilbert, chairman of Societe Miss France, said the controversy was of “unprecedented violence” and that he was “worried for the safety of Miss France.”

Winners were required to withhold any political or religious opinions during the year they held the title and Angarni-Filopon was merely following the pageant’s rules, he said.

Since winning the competition the beauty queen has faced online hate and harassment with social media users, particularly on TikTok, mocking her age and appearance.

In an interview with Marie Claire, Angarni-Filopon said: “Cyberbullying is punishable by law … so be careful what you put on the internet.

“Remember, we don’t do to people what we wouldn’t like done to us.”


Media watchdog welcomes Gaza ceasefire, calls for media access and war crimes investigations

Updated 16 January 2025
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Media watchdog welcomes Gaza ceasefire, calls for media access and war crimes investigations

  • International journalists have been barred from entering the Strip, forcing global news outlets to rely on local reporters working under extreme duress and facing targeted attacks
  • Committee to Protect Journalists said ‘prolonged war has decimated a generation of Palestinian reporters and newsrooms’

LONDON: The Committee to Protect Journalists on Wednesday night welcomed the ceasefire agreement reached in Gaza and called on authorities to grant full access to journalists and independent human rights experts to investigate crimes against the media during the 15-month conflict.

“Journalists have been paying the highest price — with their lives — to provide the world some insight into the horrors that have been taking place in Gaza during this prolonged war, which has decimated a generation of Palestinian reporters and newsrooms,” said CPJ CEO Jodie Ginsberg in New York.

“We call on Egyptian, Palestinian and Israeli authorities to immediately allow foreign journalists into Gaza, and on the international community to independently investigate the deliberate targeting of journalists that has been widely documented since October 2023.”

The ceasefire was announced on Wednesday by Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani, who mediated the deal. The agreement includes a halt to hostilities and the release of hostages held in Gaza.

Sheikh Al-Thani expressed hope that the deal would pave the way for a permanent resolution to the conflict, which has killed nearly 47,000 people — most of them Palestinians — and displaced 90 percent of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents.

However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday warned of a “last-minute crisis” with Hamas, delaying Israel’s approval of the agreement.

Despite this, all parties remain cautiously optimistic that the ceasefire will take effect as planned on Sunday.

Over the course of the war, Israel has faced heavy criticism, including from its closest ally, the US, over the devastating civilian toll in Gaza and restrictions on aid deliveries of water, medicine and other essentials.

Israel also imposed a near-total ban on international journalists entering Gaza, forcing global news outlets to rely on local reporters working under extreme duress and facing targeted attacks.

Tel Aviv has frequently dismissed these reports as biased, accusing journalists of being affiliated with militant groups, often without providing sufficient evidence.

Since October 2023, CPJ has documented at least 165 journalists and media workers killed, 49 injured, two missing, and 75 arrested, alongside numerous other press freedom violations in Gaza and neighboring regions.

The watchdog has classified the deliberate targeting of at least 11 journalists and two media workers by Israeli forces as murder, which constitutes a war crime under international law.

CPJ is also investigating an additional 20 cases where evidence suggests deliberate targeting of journalists, their homes, and media outlets in Gaza.