Israeli Ambassador to India, Sri Lanka, and Bhutan, Naor Gilon, strongly criticised The Hindu on 31 October 2023 for giving a platform to Hamas leader Mousa Abu Marzouk. In a letter addressed to the editor-in-chief of the media organisation, Suresh Nambath, Ambassador Gilon expressed his deep disapproval of the publication’s choice of interviewee, which he found deeply unsettling.
Gilon said that he found the publication’s “choice of interviewee sickening.” The Frontline article was titled, “The root of the problem is the occupation: Moussa Abu Marzouk” who is the head of international relations for Hamas based out of Qatar. The article painted Hamas as the victim and what had transpired on 7 October 2023 was due to the actions of the state of Israel.
My letter to the Editor-in-Chief of @the_hindu expressing my dismay for giving a platform to a #HamasISIS arch-terrorist. This is a shameful interview. pic.twitter.com/yF82UGwZxL
— Naor Gilon (@NaorGilon) October 31, 2023
Naor Gilon expressed his deep disappointment with The Hindu’s decision to interview Mousa Abu Marzouk, a figure he referred to as a known terrorist associated with Hamas-ISIS. The interview was published in Frontline, The Hindu’s fortnightly English magazine, on 27 October 2023.
It’s important to note that this publication was in alignment with several other Indian leftist media outlets and political parties, such as the Congress party, which have consistently sought to garner sympathy for Hamas while portraying Israel negatively.
This trend emerged following a significant attack by the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas on Israel, resulting in the deaths of many innocent Israeli civilians, including infants and the elderly, during the ongoing Hamas-Israel conflict.
While recognising the press’s right to offer a platform for a variety of perspectives, the Israeli Ambassador to India raised a pertinent question for the media outlet. He wondered whether they would have been willing to grant a platform to individuals like Ajmal Kasab or Osama Bin Laden to elucidate their motivations behind the 26/11 Mumbai attack and the 9/11 terrorist strikes on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.
Naor Gilon expressed his deep concern over The Hindu’s decision to provide space for Mousa Abu Marzouk, whom he characterized as not only a contentious figure but a recognized terrorist with significant Israeli casualties attributed to him.
“Abu Marzuk, a member of the terror organization Hamas-ISIS which has been listed as a terror organization by many countries of the world including the US, all EU members, UK and others -is responsible for the deaths of thousands of innocent Israeli civilians since 1988. He has spent time in US prison for his actions. The decision to grant him a platform, especially in the wake of the tragic 7th of October Nazi-attacks, where 1400 Israelis, including babies, women and Holocaust survivors were tortured to death in the worst possible ways – is deeply unsettling,” the letter read.
The Israeli Ambassador to India, who also talked about the possible involvement of the Islamic State (ISIS) in the Hamas attack on Israel, criticised The Hindu’s Editor-in-Chief for failing to demonstrate responsible journalism. “It is incumbent upon responsible journalism to exercise due diligence in such cases, ensuring that the voices amplified do not contribute to the promotion of violence and terror,” Naor Gilon said, further slamming the publication for not considering the need for fact-checking or asking follow up questions to Abu Marzuk, which, in turn, assisted the Hamas official to decimate lies and fake news with utmost ease.
“In a 1806 word article, less than 100 words could be considered something others than blatant lies and defamation, by any person who knows an iota about the reality between Israel and Hamas. This is an old and known Terrorist tactic utilized by Hamas-ISIS regularly: Lie and Murder, if possible – Lie about the Murder,” the letter read.
He further wrote, “Not long ago it was the duty of journalists to hold their subjects accountable for their statements and their actions. To fact check. To follow up false statements with accuracy. particularly when they pertain to matters of so grave consequence. Failing to do so not only undermines the credibility of the publication it also disrespects the countless dead victims whose blood screams from the ground. Worst of all, publishing a manifesto of a terrorist, poses a real risk of radicalizing and empowering susceptible readers to take more violent actions in the name of these “pseudo facts” claimed by terrorists. We’ve had more than our share of Jews murdered for these reasons so we should be taken seriously when we say: “Some words do kill”.
The interview was given to Frontline magazine, part of The Hindu Newspaper Group, which has in recent years, seemingly exhibited a left-leaning stance by often featuring unsubstantiated critiques of the Modi government.
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