Al-Jazeera’s Jerusalem bureau chief, Omar al-Walid, has denied claims made by Israel’s military that journalist Abdullah Al-Jamal worked for the outlet and held Israeli hostages in his home. Al-Walid stated that Al-Jamal was not affiliated with Al-Jazeera in any capacity, past or present, and that rumors connecting the two are false. The Arabic-language news network plans to take legal action against those spreading misinformation about their alleged relationship with Al-Jamal.
The Israel Defense Forces posted on social media alleging a connection between Al-Jamal and Al-Jazeera, citing a bio for Al-Jamal on the network’s website. The IDF claimed that Al-Jamal was harboring hostages Almog Meir Jan, Andry Kozlov, and Shlomi Ziv in his home. However, it is unclear if Al-Jamal was a freelance or contract writer for Al-Jazeera, as his author page only showed a single opinion piece published in 2019. The specifics of Al-Jamal’s relationship with Al-Jazeera remain unclear.
Ramy Abdul, the chairman of human rights nonprofit Euro-Med Monitor, shared details about the deaths of at least 270 people at the Nuseirat refugee camp, including the killings of Al-Jamal and his family members by the Israeli army. Abdul reported that the army used a ladder to enter Al-Jamal’s home and executed multiple family members, including Al-Jamal himself, in front of his grandchildren. Al-Jamal was described as a freelance journalist who had previously worked for several media outlets and served as the spokesperson for the Palestinian Ministry of Labor.
Al-Jamal was confirmed to have worked for The Palestine Chronicle, based in Olympia, Washington, by the Jerusalem Post. The Palestine Chronicle disputed the claim that Al-Jamal held Israeli hostages in his home, citing the word of respected commentators and journalists. Muhammad Shehada, chief of communities at Euro-Med Monitor, raised questions about the IDF’s statements regarding the location of the hostages and Al-Jamal’s involvement, suggesting that there may be confusion over the individuals held in Gaza and their connection to Al-Jamal.
The IDF has not released any statements from the hostages, Meir Jan, Kozlov, or Ziv, about the identities of those holding them in Gaza. There have been no reports indicating that the three men have been specifically asked about Al-Jamal or his involvement in their captivity. As the situation continues to unfold, the details surrounding Al-Jamal’s alleged role in holding Israeli hostages and the connections to Al-Jazeera remain murky. The discrepancies in reports from different sources highlight the complexities of the situation in the region.
