Hamas' Deadly Deception

Terrorists Masquerading as Journalists

When Terrorists Wear Press Vests, the Truth is Under Attack

Journalists risk their lives to uncover the truth. But in Gaza, Hamas has turned press credentials into weapons of war. They don't just manipulate the media—they infiltrate it, embedding terrorists under the guise of reporters.

Since October 7th, Hamas has repeatedly weaponized the media as part of its terror strategy. The October 7th massacre was the most broadcasted and documented in history—not by accident, but by design. Hamas terrorists, along with Gazan civilians, infiltrated Israeli territory in three separate waves, recording their atrocities and sharing them with the world as a tool of psychological warfare.

This tactic didn’t end on October 7th. For the past 17 months, we’ve seen Hamas exploit the power of media platforms, twisting press freedom into a shield for its operatives. Just Yesterday (Monday), the IDF and ISA eliminated the terrorist, Hossam Basel Abdul Karim Shabat. A sniper from Hamas’ Beit Hanoun Battalion, he didn’t just carry an anti-tank rifle—he carried an Al-Jazeera press credential too, using it as cover for his true mission: targeting IDF soldiers and Israeli civilians.

This isn't an isolated case. Hamas has made it a tactic to exploit press credentials, using them to shield terrorists and advance their deadly agenda. The world’s silence in the face of this abuse only strengthens Hamas' deception.

From 'Journalist' to Eliminated Terrorist

The evidence is undeniable.

• October 2024: IDF intelligence uncovered Shabat’s direct connection to Hamas.

• Internal Hamas documents: He trained with the Beit Hanoun Battalion in 2019.

• During the war: He carried out terrorist attacks against IDF troops and Israeli civilians.

Hossam was not alone in his deception. Yesterday, the IDF also eliminated another terrorist—Muhammad Imad Muhammad Mansour, a PIJ recruiter, who also posed as a journalist. Mansour even participated in a propaganda stunt, standing on stage during a hostage ceremony meant to disguise terrorism as “diplomacy”.

Real journalists expose terror. They don’t work alongside it

Why It Matters to Me—and Should Matter to You

This goes beyond Israel or the IDF. This is about the integrity of the global fight against terror. When the truth is obscured terror groups grow bolder. Accountability begins with clarity, and clarity starts with honest, accurate reporting.

This is not just about one terrorist, one press vest, or one network. It is about a systematic abuse of journalism as a tool for war. Terror entities in the Gaza Strip have spent years embedding their operatives within media institutions, using press credentials as shields, and distorting global narratives to serve their terrorist agenda.

We will not allow Hamas to manipulate the battlefield through propaganda and lies. The IDF remains committed to dismantling Hamas’ military and psychological warfare tactics, ensuring that terrorists—no matter their disguise—are held accountable.

In the fight against terror, silence or vague language isn't neutrality—it's complicity. – Adapted from George Orwell’s principles of truth.