Pro-Hamas rally in New York City (Adam Gray/Getty Images)
Journalists at CNN have slammed Israel in social media posts, with one calling out the “Zionist entity” online, according to a report from a media watchdog.
Uncovering Controversial Statements
“Your precious ‘Israel’ … was injecting women of Ethiopian origin with the long-acting contraceptive (sterilizing them),” CNN producer Mohammed Abdelbary said in 2021 in a now-deleted post. “You supporting the Zionist entity is the greatest insult to Black and Ethiopian culture one could make.”
Abdelbary joined CNN in 2021 and became a producer for its show Connect the World with Becky Anderson, according to pro-Israel watchdog HonestReporting, which revealed the 2021 post.
The Abu Dhabi-based producer has contributed to the network’s coverage of Israel’s war on Hamas and has the lead byline on an October article focused on the plight of pregnant women in Gaza. That article said of Israel’s blockade of Gaza, following Hamas’s Oct. 7 terror attacks, that “human rights organizations have condemned the move as ‘collective punishment’ and ‘a war crime.'”
Abdelbary has made anti-Israel posts on social media as far back as 2014, when he said “fuck Israel” and that he hopes the country gets “crushed by the Palestinians.”
Another journalist named by HonestReporting is British cameraman Richard Harlow, who has claimed on social media that Israel is committing war crimes, including harvesting the organs of dead Palestinians.
“People are still talking about decapitated babies but no one’s talking about the Palestinian babies that HAVE been murdered BY the Israelis,” he reportedly wrote in one post. Harlow said on social media recently that he has been tasked with editing footage from a local Gazan correspondent for CNN, the watchdog said.
Harlow’s byline has also appeared on CNN pieces from before the war, including one that detailed the feelings of Palestinians in the West Bank about a February 2023 meeting between Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Palestinian Authority president Mahmoud Abbas.
Response and Previous Criticisms
CNN responded to HonestReporting’s findings, telling the watchdog, “We were not aware of these posts and take what has been reported very seriously. We are now investigating the matter.”
This is not the first time CNN has received criticism for the reporters it uses to cover the war between Israel and Hamas. After a November report from HonestReporting, the network cut ties with a freelance photojournalist, Hassan Eslaiah, who was pictured receiving a kiss from Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar.
Other outlets have also come under fire. Eslaiah had also worked for the Associated Press, which likewise announced it would no longer work with him after the report. A month prior, the New York Times reenlisted a videographer who had praised Adolf Hitler to cover the war from Gaza.
How important is the role of media watchdog organizations in holding news outlets accountable for their reporting and maintaining transparency and integrity in journalism
Ccording to the report from a media watchdog, journalists at CNN have been criticized for their controversial statements, including one instance where a producer referred to Israel as the “Zionist entity” and accused them of sterilizing Ethiopian women.
The statement in question was made by CNN producer Mohammed Abdelbary in 2021 in a now-deleted social media post. In the post, Abdelbary claimed that Israel was injecting women of Ethiopian origin with a long-acting contraceptive, thereby sterilizing them. He further stated that supporting the ”Zionist entity” was an insult to black and Ethiopian culture. The post was revealed by pro-Israel watchdog HonestReporting.
Abdelbary joined CNN in 2021 and became a producer for the show “Connect the World with Becky Anderson.” He has contributed to the network’s coverage of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, particularly during Israel’s war on Hamas. In October, an article with Abdelbary as the lead byline was published, focusing on the difficult situation faced by pregnant women in Gaza. The article criticized Israel’s blockade of Gaza, following Hamas’s terror attacks on October 7, by referring to it as “collective punishment” and “a war crime,” as condemned by human rights organizations.
These controversial statements by a CNN producer raise concerns about the impartiality and objectivity of the network’s reporting on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Abdelbary’s use of derogatory language and his unsubstantiated claim about Israel’s treatment of Ethiopian women undermine the credibility of CNN’s coverage.
Journalists have a responsibility to report news in an unbiased and responsible manner. It is crucial for media outlets to ensure that their employees adhere to ethical standards and refrain from making inflammatory or baseless allegations. Accurate and impartial reporting is essential for fostering an informed public and promoting a fair understanding of complex global issues.
The report concerning CNN’s journalist’s statements highlights the importance of media watchdog organizations in holding news outlets accountable for their reporting. Transparency and accountability are essential in maintaining the integrity of journalism and safeguarding the public’s trust in the media.
In conclusion, CNN’s pro-Hamas rally in New York City raises concerns about the objectivity and impartiality of their reporting on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The controversial statements made by a CNN producer, including references to Israel as the “Zionist entity” and unsubstantiated claims about their treatment of Ethiopian women, undermine the credibility of the network’s coverage. The incident emphasizes the need for media outlets to adhere to ethical standards and for media watchdog organizations to ensure accountability in journalism.
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