New York, NY, October 18, 2023 … ADL (the Anti-Defamation League) today issued the following Open Letter to news media organizations from around the world who are currently covering the crisis in Israel and Gaza.
Dear Reporters, Producers and Editors:
We are writing to you today with an urgent appeal for journalistic integrity at a time of heightened global attention to the crisis and war unfolding in Israel and Gaza.
At this time of tension and crisis, it is vitally important that the news media report on military and terrorist actions on the ground in a factually accurate manner. The news media has an awesome responsibility at this difficult and tense time in Israel and Gaza, which is, first and foremost, to get the story right and to report the facts accurately so that misinformation does not cause antisemitic or other violence to erupt around the world. This is not just a matter of getting the facts straight: In some places across the world, it can literally mean life or death for Jewish communities under siege.
The most recent attack on Gaza’s Al-Ahli Hospital is the latest example of how misinformation can quickly escalate and cause real damage, including acts of violent antisemitism against Jewish communities in Europe and the United States. When images of the bombing of the hospital first surfaced, the news media immediately jumped to the false conclusion that the damage at the hospital was the result of an Israeli bomb. This reinforces myths like the blood libel and raises real questions about the media’s own prejudices.
Headlines suggested Israel had “bombed a Christian hospital in Gaza” and “murdered hundreds of civilians.” But, in fact, we have since learned that the damage was the result of a misfired Palestinian rocket by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorist organization. It is mind-boggling that the media presented claims from terrorist groups and assigned blame on Israel, without question, basing their initial reports on statements from a spokesperson for the Hamas-run Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza, as well as statements from PIJ, Hamas, and other terrorist organizations. These are not credible sources.
Amid the fog of war, it is critical for media outlets to exercise extreme caution in reporting events on the ground. This means not rushing to report unverified information, verifying claims completely, maintaining objectivity in coverage, and avoiding sensational headlines that blame one side or the other for deaths or injuries without verifying all of the facts.
In the most recent hospital bombing, the initial false reports blaming Israel for carrying out the attack had immediate reverberations around the world: Protests erupted across the Middle East; in Germany, a Molotov cocktail was thrown at a synagogue in Berlin and riots were reported between Muslim immigrants and police. This demonstrates how the news media has an immediate impact on perceptions and reactions across the globe, because its coverage has the potential to immediately inflame hateful violence.
We urge you, again: Report fairly, verify your information, be deeply skeptical of official statements from Hamas, and do not assign blame until the full picture becomes available. If you have any questions about what constitutes antisemitism or would like to discuss this matter, please feel free to contact me. To further our mission to fight antisemitism and protect Jewish communities in the U.S. and around the world, ADL will continue to monitor coverage and will respond strenuously and publicly to any coverage that is biased or inflammatory.
Sincerely,
Jonathan A. Greenblatt
CEO and National Director
Anti-Defamation League
ADL is the leading anti-hate organization in the world. Founded in 1913, its timeless mission is “to stop the defamation of the Jewish people and to secure justice and fair treatment to all.” Today, ADL continues to fight all forms of antisemitism and bias, using innovation and partnerships to drive impact. A global leader in combating antisemitism, countering extremism and battling bigotry wherever and whenever it happens, ADL works to protect democracy and ensure a just and inclusive society for all.