BBC faces questions over Gaza ‘analyst' who led Hamas TV channel
The BBC is investigating claims that a 'journalist' regularly interviewed about the conflict in Gaza was the boss of a television channel controlled by Hamas.
Wesam Afifa has repeatedly appeared on the BBC Arabic channel described as a 'journalistic writer' and 'political analyst', it is claimed.
Afifa was the editor-in-chief of Al-Aqsa TV, which the BBC has described as being controlled by Hamas, from 2017 until September last year.
He was also editor-in-chief of the al-Resalah news website, which is closely associated with Hamas, from January 2006 to September last year. He continues to write for the service, according to his professional profile.
Afifa was most recently introduced as 'a journalistic author' by Akram Shaban, the BBC presenter, during an interview on May 2 in
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Telegraph
11 minutes ago
- Telegraph
IDF recovers bodies of US-Israeli couple taken on Oct 7
Israel has recovered the bodies of a couple with US citizenship who were murdered on Oct 7 and taken into Gaza. The remains of Judith Weinstein Haggai, 70, and Gad Haggai, 72, were recovered in an operation conducted overnight by the IDF and the Shin Bet internal security agency in the southern Gazan city of Khan Younis. Their bodies have been brought back to Israel for forensic identification. Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, said: 'Together with all the citizens of Israel, my wife and I extend our heartfelt condolences to the dear families. Our hearts ache for the most terrible loss. May their memory be blessed. 'I would like to thank, and express appreciation to, the fighters and commanders for this determined and successful operation. We will not rest, nor will we be silent, until we return home all of our hostages – the living and the deceased.' The couple's deaths in the Nir Oz kibbutz during the Hamas-led massacre had previously been confirmed in December 2023. They used to take a walk around the kibbutz each morning, and it was then that they ran into the terrorists converging on the community, according to an IDF official. The official said the couple were murdered by Kitab al-Mujahidin terrorists, the same group that held Shiri, Kfir and Ariel Bibas, who were murdered in captivity, Israel has said. Both were dual US-Israeli citizens, but Mrs Haggai also had Canadian citizenship. In the early hours of the morning on Oct 7, Mrs Haggai was able to call emergency services and let them know that both she and her husband had been shot, and send a message to her family. She was born in New York and taught English to children with special needs at the Nir Oz kibbutz, a small community near the Gaza border. The kibbutz said she also taught meditation techniques to children and teenagers who suffered from anxiety as a result of rocket fire from Gaza. Mr Haggai was a retired chef and jazz musician. Iris Haggai Liniado, their daughter, wrote in a Facebook post: 'My beautiful parents have been freed. We have certainty.' She thanked the Israeli military, the FBI and the Israeli and US governments and called for the release of all the remaining hostages. The couple are survived by two sons, two daughters and seven grandchildren, the kibbutz said. The Times of Israel reported an unnamed official as saying it was the interrogation of a terrorist captured in Gaza that led to the operation to recover their bodies. There are now 56 hostages still being held by Hamas in Gaza, at least 20 of whom are believed to be alive. Israel said its expanded offensive in the Strip, named Operation Gideon's Chariot, will increase the chances of returning the missing. However, many of the hostage families have expressed alarm at the new tactic of seizing and holding territory, which follows heavy bombardment, and are urging Mr Netanyahu to make a deal with Hamas. Hamas has rejected proposed ceasefire and hostage release deals that do not guarantee a full Israel withdrawal from the Strip and an end to the war.
The Sun
26 minutes ago
- The Sun
Inside twisted crew on Greta Thunberg's Gaza ‘Freedom Flotilla' from terrorist sympathiser to Nazi-ranting TV presenter
THE crew on board Greta Thunberg's "Freedom Flotilla" include a terrorist sympathiser and a raging presenter who branded the IDF Nazis. The climate zealot, aged 22, is working with 11 other pro- Palestine activists on board the Madleen to deliver a "symbolic" amount of aid into Gaza. 6 6 6 6 The young campaigners say they are hoping to 'break the siege' and raise 'international awareness ' of the humanitarian crisis on the Gaza Strip. But some of them have openly supported terrorist organisations like the infamous Hezbollah. Brazilian protestor Thiago Avila attended the funeral of slain Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in February after he was assassinated last year. Avila hailed the Islamist militia leader as a "beloved" leader and a "martyr." The Brazilian also said he was "very honored" and "very happy" to attend the funeral of the terrorist group leader. Nasrallah "inspired people all over the world", according to Avila. On X, Avila said of Hezbollah's head was an "important figure", and that the funeral "amazed him". Nasrallah was the leader of Hezbollah - which is deemed a terrorist organisation in the UK and US among other countries. He helped train fighters from the terror group Hamas and other militias in Iraq and Yemen. Another sailor on board the so-called Freedom Flotilla is Yasemin Acar, from Berlin, who gained notoriety for hate speech against Jews. When Iran launched a terrifying missile strike on Israel, she reportedly danced with a pal in celebration as the rockets hit, according to Bild. Acar has also reportedly drawn slogans to target Israel, and at a demonstration she was heard racially abusing a white woman. She said: "You're a white person, you shouldn't tell us what to do." Scandalous politician Rima Hassan is also on board the ship to Gaza. She has accused Israel of being responsible for the October 7 deaths and kidnappings of Kfir and Ariel Bibas and their mum Shira in 2023. This is despite the fact that terror group Hamas executed the infamous attack where the three were taken and killed. Hassan reportedly tweeted: "Kfir, Ariel, and Shiri Bibas were killed by an Israeli attack." 6 6 She also took part in a protest in Jordan last year - in which demonstrators held up banners praising Hamas and calling for the destruction of Israel, according to Bild. Hassan was among people reportedly chanting in the streets: 'We die for jihad.' French journalist Omar Faiad is also sailing with Greta and co. The Al-Jazeera journalist has downplayed the Holocaust and shockingly compared the IDF to Nazis. The reporter said on X: "The Israeli army resembles the Nazi army." He also claimed that "Israel is committing a new Holocaust in Gaza" shortly after the barbaric October 7 attack. Who is on board the "Freedom Floitlla"? Greta Thunberg - Swedish climate activist Rima Hassan – French-Palestinian MEP Yasemin Acar – German activist Thiago Avila – Brazilian activist Omar Faiad – French journalist Pascal Maurieras – French activist Yanis Mhamdi – French reporter Suayb Ordu – Turkish activist Sergio Toribio – Spanish activist Marco van Rennes – Dutch activist Reva Viard – French activist Liam Cunningham - Irish actor Baptiste Andre - French Physician On Wednesday, Israel issued a stark warning to Thunberg's ship as the climate activist aimed to sail into Gaza. The Swede left from Catania, Italy, on Sunday to take the Madleen across the Mediterranean. Also on board the ship is Irish Game of Thrones actor Liam Cunningham. She posted pictures of herself on social media with a Palestine flag and wearing a keffiyeh scarf. Israel is prepared to raid the ship, IDF spokesman Brigadier General Effie Defrin said. He said: "We have gained experience in recent years, and we will act accordingly." One activist on board has said they are being followed by a drone - a month after another boat under the same flag was allegedly attacked by one.
North Wales Chronicle
32 minutes ago
- North Wales Chronicle
Israel says it has recovered the bodies of two hostages from Gaza
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the remains of Judih Weinstein and Gad Haggai had been recovered and returned to Israel in a special operation by the army and the Shin Bet internal security agency. 'Together with all the citizens of Israel, my wife and I extend our heartfelt condolences to the dear families. Our hearts ache for the most terrible loss. May their memory be blessed,' he said in a statement. Kibbutz Nir Oz announced the deaths of Ms Weinstein, 70, and Mr Haggai, 72, both of whom had Israeli and US citizenship, in December 2023. The military said they were killed in the October 7 attack and taken into Gaza by the Mujahideen Brigades, the small armed group that it said had also abducted and killed Shiri Bibas and her two small children. The army said it recovered the remains of Ms Weinstein and Mr Haggai overnight into Thursday from the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis. The couple were taking an early morning walk near their home in Kibbutz Nir Oz on the morning of October 7 when Hamas militants burst across the border into Israel, killing about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting 251. In the early hours of the morning, Ms Weinstein was able to call emergency services and let them know that both she and her husband had been shot and send a message to her family. The couple were survived by two sons and two daughters and seven grandchildren, the kibbutz said. Ms Weinstein was born in New York and taught English to children with special needs at Kibbutz Nir Oz, a small community near the Gaza border. The kibbutz said she also taught meditation techniques to children and teenagers who suffered from anxiety as a result of rocket fire from Gaza. Mr Haggai was a retired chef and jazz musician. 'My beautiful parents have been freed. We have certainty,' their daughter, Iris Haggai Liniado, wrote in a Facebook post. She thanked the Israeli military, the FBI and the Israeli and US governments and called for the release of all the remaining hostages. Hamas-led militants are still holding 56 hostages, around a third of them believed to be alive, after most of the rest were released in ceasefire agreements or other deals. Israeli forces have rescued eight living hostages from Gaza and recovered dozens of bodies. Israel's military campaign has killed more than 54,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which does not say how many of the dead were civilians or combatants. The offensive has destroyed large parts of Gaza and displaced around 90% of its population of roughly two million Palestinians. The US, Egypt and Qatar have been trying to broker another ceasefire and hostage release after Israel ended an earlier truce in March and imposed a blockade that has raised fears of famine, despite being eased in recent weeks. But the talks appear to be deadlocked. Hamas says it will release the remaining hostages only in return for more Palestinian prisoners, a lasting ceasefire and an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. It has offered to hand over power to a politically independent Palestinian committee. Mr Netanyahu has rejected those terms, saying Israel will only agree to temporary ceasefires to facilitate the return of hostages. He has vowed to continue the war until all the hostages are returned and Hamas is defeated or disarmed and sent into exile. He has said Israel will maintain control over Gaza indefinitely and will facilitate what he refers to as the voluntary emigration of much of its population to other countries. The Palestinians and much of the international community have rejected such plans, viewing them as forcible expulsion that could violate international law.
