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A New York Times reporter who came under fire last year for a praising Adolf Hitler in multiple resurfaced Facebook posts was rehired by the Gray Lady to cover the Israel-Palestine war.
A New York Times reporter who came under fire last year for a praising Adolf Hitler in multiple resurfaced Facebook posts was rehired by the Gray Lady to cover the Israel-Palestine war.
Palestinian filmmaker Soliman Hijjy hailed the Nazi leader as recently as 2018 in a post on Facebook, when he shared a photo of himself captioned that he was “in a state of harmony as Hitler was during the Holocaust,” per a translation from Arabic by pro-Israel media watchdog site HonestReporting.</small></blockquote></ref>
Palestinian filmmaker Soliman Hijjy hailed the Nazi leader as recently as 2018 in a post on Facebook, when he shared a photo of himself captioned that he was “in a state of harmony as Hitler was during the Holocaust,” per a translation from Arabic by pro-Israel media watchdog site HonestReporting.</small></blockquote></ref>
[[File:Bloody NYT.jpg|thumb|Bloody NYT]]
===The New York Times' Kristof and the Collapse of Journalistic Standards on Israel (including propagating genocidal Hamas tail tale 5/11/26)===
Critics accused ''The New York Times'' of engaging in "narrative activism" after columnist Nicholas Kristof published an opinion article alleging systematic sexual abuse of Palestinian detainees by Israeli personnel.<ref>{{cite web |title=How the New York Times Laundered Dubious Sexual Abuse Claims Against Israel |url=[https://honestreporting.com/how-the-new-york-times-laundered-dubious-sexual-abuse-claims-against-israel/](https://honestreporting.com/how-the-new-york-times-laundered-dubious-sexual-abuse-claims-against-israel/) |website=HonestReporting |date=2026-05-12}}</ref> The controversy intensified due to the article’s sourcing, reliance on activist organizations, and publication timing immediately before the release of a major report documenting Hamas sexual violence during the October 7 attacks.<ref>{{cite news |title=Israel slams NYT op-ed on Palestinian abuse, ignoring Oct. 7 sexual violence |url=[https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-895908](https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-895908) |work=The Jerusalem Post |date=2026-05-12}}</ref>
'''Criticism of sourcing'''
One of the primary witnesses cited in Kristof’s article was Sami al-Sai. Critics noted that the ''New York Times'' did not disclose al-Sai’s publicly visible social media posts praising Hamas-linked militants and celebrating armed attacks against Israelis.<ref>{{cite web |title=How the New York Times Laundered Dubious Sexual Abuse Claims Against Israel |url=[https://honestreporting.com/how-the-new-york-times-laundered-dubious-sexual-abuse-claims-against-israel/](https://honestreporting.com/how-the-new-york-times-laundered-dubious-sexual-abuse-claims-against-israel/) |website=HonestReporting |date=2026-05-12}}</ref>
Researcher David Collier published screenshots allegedly showing al-Sai celebrating the October 7 Hamas attacks and praising Hamas fighters.<ref>{{cite web |title=So the @nytimes runs a story supporting Hamas lies |url=[https://x.com/mishtal/status/2053890635866755291](https://x.com/mishtal/status/2053890635866755291) |website=X (Twitter) |author=David Collier |date=2026-05-11}}</ref>
According to HonestReporting, al-Sai referred to terrorist commander Amir Abu Khadija as “our martyred prince,” while also posting celebratory content about militants in the Nur Shams camp shortly before Israeli military operations there.<ref>{{cite web |title=How the New York Times Laundered Dubious Sexual Abuse Claims Against Israel |url=[https://honestreporting.com/how-the-new-york-times-laundered-dubious-sexual-abuse-claims-against-israel/](https://honestreporting.com/how-the-new-york-times-laundered-dubious-sexual-abuse-claims-against-israel/) |website=HonestReporting |date=2026-05-12}}</ref>
Critics argued that omission of this context prevented readers from fully evaluating the credibility and ideological orientation of one of the article’s principal sources.
'''False testimony and evolving "allegations"'''
Critics also highlighted discrepancies between earlier testimonies and later allegations presented in the ''New York Times'' article.<ref>{{cite web |title=How the New York Times Laundered Dubious Sexual Abuse Claims Against Israel |url=[https://honestreporting.com/how-the-new-york-times-laundered-dubious-sexual-abuse-claims-against-israel/](https://honestreporting.com/how-the-new-york-times-laundered-dubious-sexual-abuse-claims-against-israel/) |website=HonestReporting |date=2026-05-12}}</ref>
According to [[HonestReporting]], al-Sai previously gave testimony to B’Tselem describing alleged abuse during detention, but later accounts published by Kristof reportedly included substantially more graphic and elaborate details absent from the earlier testimony.<ref>{{cite web |title=How the New York Times Laundered Dubious Sexual Abuse Claims Against Israel |url=[https://honestreporting.com/how-the-new-york-times-laundered-dubious-sexual-abuse-claims-against-israel/](https://honestreporting.com/how-the-new-york-times-laundered-dubious-sexual-abuse-claims-against-israel/) |website=HonestReporting |date=2026-05-12}}</ref>
Similar criticism was directed at activist Issa Amro. Critics noted that in a February 2024 interview with ''The Washington Post'', Amro reportedly described threats of sexual assault during detention, while later coverage in the ''New York Times'' framed him within a broader narrative of alleged sexual assault victims.<ref>{{cite web |title=How the New York Times Laundered Dubious Sexual Abuse Claims Against Israel |url=[https://honestreporting.com/how-the-new-york-times-laundered-dubious-sexual-abuse-claims-against-israel/](https://honestreporting.com/how-the-new-york-times-laundered-dubious-sexual-abuse-claims-against-israel/) |website=HonestReporting |date=2026-05-12}}</ref>
Critics argued that the article did not sufficiently explain how or why these allegations evolved over time.
'''[[Hamas]] linked Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor controversy'''
The article’s reliance on [[Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor]] generated additional backlash. Critics including Eitan Fischberger and HonestReporting accused the organization of functioning as a politically motivated anti-Israel advocacy group with Hamas sympathies.<ref>{{cite web |title=This is how @NickKristof opens his screed |url=[https://twitter.com/EFischberger/status/2053828304377966889](https://twitter.com/EFischberger/status/2053828304377966889) |website=X (Twitter) |author=Eitan Fischberger |date=2026-05-11}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=How the New York Times Laundered Dubious Sexual Abuse Claims Against Israel |url=[https://honestreporting.com/how-the-new-york-times-laundered-dubious-sexual-abuse-claims-against-israel/](https://honestreporting.com/how-the-new-york-times-laundered-dubious-sexual-abuse-claims-against-israel/) |website=HonestReporting |date=2026-05-12}}</ref>
Particular outrage focused on made up lie involving claims that Israeli personnel used trained dogs --supposedly-- to sexually assault prisoners. The accusation is implausible and it's compared to historical [[antisemitic]] blood libels.<ref>{{cite news |title=Does the New York Times want to kill Jews? |url=[https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/426953](https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/426953) |work=Israel National News |author=Gary Willig |date=2026-05-12}}</ref>
Critics further noted that Euro-Med had previously promoted lies about Israel allegedly “vaporizing” Palestinians into dust.<ref>{{cite web |title=This is how @NickKristof opens his screed |url=[https://twitter.com/EFischberger/status/2053828304377966889](https://twitter.com/EFischberger/status/2053828304377966889) |website=X (Twitter) |author=Eitan Fischberger |date=2026-05-11}}</ref>
'''Comparisons to Kristof’s prior reporting controversies'''
Critics drew parallels between the controversy and Kristof’s previous involvement with anti-trafficking activist Somaly Mam, whose abuse narratives were later challenged.<ref>{{cite web |title=In 2014, Nicholas Kristof had to write a humiliating blog post titled “When Sources May Have Lied.” |url=[https://x.com/EFischberger/status/2053964732944556478](https://x.com/EFischberger/status/2053964732944556478) |website=X (Twitter) |author=Eitan Fischberger |date=2026-05-11}}</ref>
Fischberger points out that Kristof had once again relied heavily on emotionally charged testimony without sufficient corroboration.<ref>{{cite web |title=In 2014, Nicholas Kristof had to write a humiliating blog post titled “When Sources May Have Lied.” |url=[https://x.com/EFischberger/status/2053964732944556478](https://x.com/EFischberger/status/2053964732944556478) |website=X (Twitter) |author=Eitan Fischberger |date=2026-05-11}}</ref>
'''Timing controversy'''
The publication timing of the ''New York Times'' article generated additional criticism because it appeared immediately before the release of a major report by Israel’s Civil Commission on [[Oct 7 War|October 7th]] Crimes by Hamas Against Women and Children.<ref>{{cite news |title=Oct. 7 sexual violence was patterned, documented, prosecutable, new report argues |url=[https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-895838](https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-895838) |work=The Jerusalem Post |date=2026-05-12}}</ref>
The report states that Hamas systematically used rape, gang rape, sexual torture, humiliation, and abuse during the October 7 attacks and subsequent hostage captivity.<ref>{{cite news |title=Oct. 7 sexual violence was patterned, documented, prosecutable, new report argues |url=[https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-895838](https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-895838) |work=The Jerusalem Post |date=2026-05-12}}</ref>
Officials accused the ''New York Times'' of amplifying unverified allegations against Israel while minimizing or ignoring evidence of Hamas sexual violence.<ref>{{cite news |title=Israel slams NYT op-ed on Palestinian abuse, ignoring Oct. 7 sexual violence |url=[https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-895908](https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-895908) |work=The Jerusalem Post |date=2026-05-12}}</ref>
Critics point out that the publication timing reflected an attempt to redirect public attention away from Hamas atrocities and toward allegations against Israel.
'''Accusations of blood libel and media bias'''
Commentators described the allegations amplified by Kristof as modern “blood libels” against Jews and Israel.<ref>{{cite news |title=Does the New York Times want to kill Jews? |url=[https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/426953](https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/426953) |work=Israel National News |author=Gary Willig |date=2026-05-12}}</ref>
Gary Willig wrote that publication of sensational allegations involving sexual torture and “rape dogs” during a period of rising antisemitic violence worldwide was reckless and inflammatory.<ref>{{cite news |title=Does the New York Times want to kill Jews? |url=[https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/426953](https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/426953) |work=Israel National News |author=Gary Willig |date=2026-05-12}}</ref>
Other online commentators compared the allegations to historical antisemitic conspiracy narratives such as ''The Protocols of the Elders of Zion''.<ref>{{cite web |title=People are upset with the amplification of this important pamphlet called The Protocols of the Elders of Zion |url=[https://twitter.com/strxwmxn/status/2053923830805196891](https://twitter.com/strxwmxn/status/2053923830805196891) |website=X (Twitter) |author=Strxwmxn |date=2026-05-11}}</ref>
Critics broadly point out that major Western media organizations apply inconsistent evidentiary standards when reporting allegations against Israel compared to reporting on Hamas atrocities.<ref>{{cite web |title=How the New York Times Laundered Dubious Sexual Abuse Claims Against Israel |url=[https://honestreporting.com/how-the-new-york-times-laundered-dubious-sexual-abuse-claims-against-israel/](https://honestreporting.com/how-the-new-york-times-laundered-dubious-sexual-abuse-claims-against-israel/) |website=HonestReporting |date=2026-05-12}}</ref>
== Bilal Shbair: Bias in Reporting ==
== Bilal Shbair: Bias in Reporting ==