IDF claims journalist killed was Hamas operative, Al Jazeera denies allegation as ‘baseless’

Al-Jazeera said Al-Ghoul had worked for the network since November 2023 and his only profession was as a journalist. (AFP/File)
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Updated 02 August 2024
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IDF claims journalist killed was Hamas operative, Al Jazeera denies allegation as ‘baseless’

  • Qatari network said claim that Ismail Al-Ghoul took part in Oct. 7 attack is an attempt to justify the deliberate killing of its journalists
  • Al-Ghoul was killed along cameraman Ramy El Rify in an Israeli strike on Gaza City on Wednesday

JERUSALEM: The Israeli military confirmed on Thursday that it had killed Al-Jazeera journalist Ismail Al-Ghoul in an airstrike in Gaza, saying he was a Hamas operative who had taken part in the Oct. 7 attack on Israel.
Al-Jazeera dismissed what it said were “baseless allegations” which it said were an attempt to justify the deliberate killing of its journalists.
“The network condemns the accusations against its correspondent Ismail Al-Ghoul, without providing any proof, documentation or video,” it said in a statement, adding that it reserved the right to take legal action against those responsible.
The Qatari broadcaster said on Wednesday that Al-Ghoul and cameraman Ramy El Rify were both killed in an Israeli strike on Gaza City while on an assignment to film near the house of Ismail Haniyeh, the Hamas chief killed in Iran earlier on the same day.
The Israeli military said Al-Ghoul was a member of the elite Nukhba unit who took part in the Oct. 7 attack and instructed Hamas operatives on how to record operations, and it said he was involved in recording and publicizing attacks on Israeli troops.
“His activities in the field were a vital part of Hamas’ military activity,” it said in a statement.
Al-Jazeera said Al-Ghoul had worked for the network since November 2023 and his only profession was as a journalist.
It said he had been arrested and detained at Al-Shifa Hospital in the northern part of the Gaza Strip when it was taken by Israeli forces in March before being released, which it said “debunks and refutes their false claim of his affiliation with any organization.”
The Israeli government has banned Al-Jazeera from operating in Israel, accusing it of posing a threat to national security.
Al Jazeera, which has been heavily critical of Israel’s campaign in Gaza, has denied inciting violence.
The Hamas-run Gaza government media office said the deaths of the two Al-Jazeera crew raised to 165 the number of Palestinian journalists killed by Israeli fire since Oct 7.


Media ministry’s Konoz wins 6 gold awards

The AVA Digital Awards are among the most prestigious international awards, established in the US nearly 19 years ago. (@KonozSA
Updated 23 January 2026
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Media ministry’s Konoz wins 6 gold awards

  • “The Destination” showcases the developments witnessed in Saudi Arabia over the past few years across political, economic, medical, sports, cultural, media and artistic fields

RIYADH: The Konoz Saudi Arabia initiative, one of the Ministry of Media’s programs, achieved a global milestone by winning six gold awards at the AVA Digital Awards for its documentary film “The Destination.”

Awards were given for documentary, film, editing, informational, cinematography and directing.

With the achievement, the film’s total awards since its release have risen to 13, in addition to receiving three international commendations, bringing the initiative’s overall tally to more than 50 local and international awards.

“The Destination” showcases the developments witnessed in Saudi Arabia over the past few years across political, economic, medical, sports, cultural, media and artistic fields. The film highlights the steady and accelerated steps toward realizing Saudi Vision 2030 and the Kingdom’s transformation into a global destination.

The documentary is currently available on the Shahid and stc tv platforms, in addition to being screened onboard Saudia flights. It combines creative footage drawn from trusted media sources covering events across the Kingdom with exclusive interviews featuring experts and specialists in the fields addressed by the film.

To date, the documentary has surpassed 10 million views across various platforms.

The AVA Digital Awards are among the most prestigious international awards, established in the US nearly 19 years ago. The awards aim to honor excellence in planning, directing, design and production across digital campaigns, audio and video production, website development, and social-media marketing and engagement.