A special unit within Israel's military was assigned to identify and smear journalists as undercover Hamas fighters aimed at diminishing international outrage regarding the killing of media workers. This cell was established following the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, to compile information that would support Israel's image and secure diplomatic backing. Reports indicate that at least one journalist was incorrectly labeled as a militant, which has deadly implications in Gaza. Israel's actions have raised significant concerns over the safety of journalists in Palestine, especially following the recent killings of Al Jazeera personnel.
A special unit in Israel's military was tasked with identifying reporters it could smear as undercover Hamas fighters, to target them and to blunt international outrage over the killing of media workers.
In at least one case the unit misrepresented information in order to falsely describe a journalist as a militant, a designation that in Gaza is in effect a death sentence.
The label was reversed before the man was attacked, one of the sources said.
According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, Palestinian journalists reporting from the ground are the most at risk in the world, with more than 180 killed by Israeli attacks in less than two years.
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