According to several reports, Al Jazeera journalist Abdallah Ajamal held three Israeli citizens captive in Gaza. Fortunately, the Israeli hostages were rescued during a special operation carried out by the Israel Defense Forces. Al Jazeera is a known promoter of terrorist views, yet, has press credentials with the White House.
U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) sent a letter to President Joe Biden urging him to immediately rescind Al Jazeera’s credentials and access to the White House.
- “It is no secret that Qatar-funded Al Jazeera has long been a mouthpiece for terrorists and has peddled anti-American sentiments. As such, I urge you to immediately revoke Al Jazeera’s access to the White House until it cuts all ties with U.S.-designated FTOs.”
Want more information?
- July 2021: Rubio Joins Colleagues in Pressing DOJ on Why Al Jazeera is Not Registered as a Foreign Agent
- September 2020: Rubio, Cotton, Cruz, Zeldin Welcome Al Jazeera’s Registration Under FARA
- June 2019: Rubio Joins Colleagues in Seeking FARA Evaluation of Qatari-owned Al Jazeera
The full text of the letter is below.
Dear Mr. President:
On October 7, 2023, Hamas, a U.S.-designated foreign terrorist organization (FTO) launched an unprecedented terrorist attack on Israeli civilians, killing more than 1,200 people and taking another 251 hostage. Many of the victims were mutilated, raped, and later used as human shields. The depravity of Hamas, and those who support the group’s evil acts, is difficult to describe in written word, but cannot be ignored. It is no secret that Qatar-funded Al Jazeera has long been a mouthpiece for terrorists and has peddled anti-American sentiments. As such, I urge you to immediately revoke Al Jazeera’s access to the White House until it cuts all ties with U.S.-designated FTOs.
Al Jazeera actively promotes Islamic terrorism worldwide, including by backing Hamas, and inciting violence. The list of Al Jazeera “journalists” in Gaza who are supporting terrorism is only growing. According to reports, three of the hostages rescued by Israeli Defense Forces after 246 days in captivity in Gaza, were held captive by Palestinian Al Jazeera journalist, Abdallah Aljamal, and his extended family. While Al Jazeera denies any knowledge of Aljamal, he is listed on the company’s English language website as “a Gaza-based reporter and photojournalist” who “often reports from the ongoing ‘March of Return’ protests at the fence separating besieged Gaza from Israel.” Aljamal was also a contributor to the Palestine Chronicle, an English language pro-Hamas outlet led by ex-Al Jazeera official Ramzi Baroud.
This is not an isolated incident, but part of a larger pattern of Al Jazeera journalists who maintain ties with, or, in some cases, operate as members of U.S.-designated FTOs. For example, Al Jazeera correspondent Ismail Abu Omar served as a Deputy Company Commander for Hamas and posted videos and photos of himself participating in the brutal October 7 attacks. In another case, the IDF revealed documents found in Gaza that identify another Al Jazeera journalist, Hamza al-Dahdouh, as a regional official for Palestinian Islamic Jihad, another U.S.- designated FTO.
A free press is built into the DNA of our nation. However, for years, Al Jazeera has used its platform to sow anti-American sentiments and harm our own security and those of our allies. So long as its employs journalists and reporters who operate as members and affiliates of FTOs, Al Jazeera will continue to undermine our nation from inside our government buildings. There is absolutely no reason Al Jazeera, or its employees, should have access to you, the White House, or any of your advisors.
I urge you to immediately remove Kimberly Halkett’s credentials, and those of all Al Jazeera employees who have access to the White House.
