A rare moment of dissent in Gaza was captured on live television on Tuesday, when a resident publicly criticized Hamas, the Islamist group that controls the territory, for its role in the ongoing conflict with Israel.
The man, who was not identified, was interviewed by a reporter from Al Jazeera, a Qatari-based news channel that is widely seen as biased in favor of Hamas and rarely allows any dissenting voices from Gaza to be heard.
The reporter, who appeared to be caught off guard by the statement, turned away and said: “I’m sorry, I can’t hear you. There’s a lot of noise here.” The channel then quickly switched to another topic, without acknowledging the man’s criticism of Hamas.
The incident was widely shared on social media, with many users praising the man for his courage and condemning Al Jazeera for its censorship and propaganda.
The conflict between Israel and Hamas has escalated in the past week, with both sides launching hundreds of airstrikes and rockets, killing more than 200 people, mostly in Gaza.
The UN chief has condemned the violence and said there were “clear violations of international humanitarian law” by both sides, calling for an immediate ceasefire.
The humanitarian situation in Gaza is dire, with many people lacking access to basic services, such as electricity, water, and health care.
Relevant articles:
– WATCH: Gaza resident criticizes Hamas on Al Jazeera, reporter turns away and ignores him, The Jerusalem Post, 11/15/2023
– UN chief says ‘clear violations of international humanitarian law’ in Gaza, Al Jazeera, 10/24/2023
– Al Jazeera host denounces media calling Hamas a terrorist group ‘even though it is’, Fox News, 11/14/2023
– An Al Jazeera journalist learned his family had been killed while on air, CNN, 10/26/2023