Families of hostages and Israeli leaders demand action against photojournalists embedded with Hamas on Oct. 7

The public outcry in Israel has continued one day after an exposé by Honest Reporting suggested that freelance journalists employed by Reuters, AP, the New York Times and CNN accompanied Hamas terrorists on their murderous assault into Israeli territory on Oct. 7.

On Thursday, after several politicians condemned the conduct of the journalists and their employers, the family members of some of the hostages raised their voices as well.

They especially condemned the fact that the journalists stood by and took photos of some of their family members as they were being taken hostage, instead of helping them.

“A person cannot stand by when an 85-year-old woman is kidnapped in the name of journalistic freedom,” said Adva Adar, whose grandmother, Yaffa, was filmed by journalists working for the Associated Press while she was abducted into the Gaza Strip.

“To stand by and take pictures is to take part in a terrorist activity for all intents and purposes. It doesn’t matter if they knew before or not, to stand by and watch is to be a terrorist, no less,” she told Ynet news.

“I’m sorry this happened ‘in the name of journalism,’” said Ricarda Louk, mother of Israeli-German Shani Louk.

Images of Shani’s dead body being paraded through Gaza on a Hamas vehicle went viral.

“It’s sad to hear that maybe people knew in advance and supported the attack on Israel through journalism,” Ricarda added.

Israel’s ambassador to Germany, Ron Prosor, concurred: “Such a horrific photograph serves Hamas propaganda and humiliates the victims of the massacre. This is a loss of all media ethics.”

Israeli Communications Minister Dr. Shlomo Karhi contacted CNN, Reuters, the New York Times and AP on Thursday to demand a “swift and thorough response.”

“It is now a time for individuals, journalists, institutions, unions, and organizations around the world to make a clear choice. We must decide whether we stand on the side of life and good or on the side of depraved terrorism, inhumanity, and evil,” he stressed.

Lior Haiat, Israel's foreign ministry spokeswoman also sent a protest letter to the Foreign Press Association, together with the head of the Government Press Office.

“Participating in war crimes and crimes against humanity constitutes a breach of every ethical and professional standard of journalism, and must be met with a swift and clear condemnation.”

Knesset Member Danny Danon of the Likud party went one step further.

Danon commented on images taken by journalist Hassan Eslaiah, employed by Reuters, who was seen driving on a motorcycle on Oct. 7 while appearing to hold a hand grenade,

Danon accused the journalists of taking “an active part in the massacre.”

Yesterday a major report was published on the independent news site "Honest Reporting" which revealed a shocking fact.

Photographers employed by some of the largest and most prominent global media organizations, including AP and Reuters, took an active part in the massacre of… pic.twitter.com/ltex6hMn59

— Danny Danon 🇮🇱 דני דנון (@dannydanon) November 9, 2023

“While Hamas savages murdered, raped, tortured, and brutally abused our people, the vile photographers did not stop, turn away or leave the scene. Instead, they filmed and participated in the crimes,” he said.

“We will hunt them down together with the terrorists,” said Danon.