Israeli ministries suspend relations with Haaretz newspaper over ‘freedom fighters’ comment

ANKARA

After the publisher of the Haaretz newspaper described Palestinians as “freedom fighters”, several Israeli ministries announced the suspension of their ties with the newspaper.

The decision, taken late Thursday, followed comments made by Haaretz owner Amos Schocken in London last Sunday, which sparked controversy in Israeli political circles.

Israeli news outlet Israel Hayom reported that an Interior Ministry directive included halting cooperation with Haaretz because of Schocken’s remarks. The Ministry demanded an apology from Schocken for his statement regarding the Palestinians.

At a subsequent press conference, Schocken expressed regret for his comments, stating: “I have reconsidered my words… As for (Palestinian group) Hamas, they are not freedom fighters.”

In his original speech, Schocken criticized the government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, saying that it “doesn’t care about imposing a cruel apartheid regime on the Palestinian people.” “It ignores the cost of defending settlements on both sides while fighting Palestinian freedom fighters, whom Israel calls terrorists.”

He described the situation in Gaza as a “second Nakba”, a “catastrophe” that resulted in the mass displacement and dispossession of Palestinians since Israel was founded in 1948, and called for sanctions against Israel, claiming that this was the only way to achieve this. a Palestinian state.

Following Schocken’s statements, the Israeli Ministry of Culture announced that it would immediately stop all advertising and collaborations with Haaretz.

The debate intensified after Haaretz published an editorial on Wednesday suggesting that it is not surprising that serious doubts have arisen over Israel’s practice of ethnic cleansing in northern Gaza as part of recent strong efforts to oust Palestinians from the region. “If it looks like ethnic cleansing, it probably is,” the editorial said.

Haaretz’s commentary highlighted the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza, noting that Israeli forces have surrounded northern Gaza for more than three weeks, leading to significant restrictions on humanitarian aid.

The editorial warned that continued aggression could lead to the displacement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians and the destruction of entire communities, leaving a lasting moral and legal stain on Israeli society.

The Israeli army has been waging a deadly offensive in northern Gaza since October 5, claiming it aims to prevent Hamas from regrouping. However, Palestinians accuse Israel of occupying the area and forcibly displacing its residents.

Overall, Israeli forces have killed more than 43,000 people and injured more than 101,000 since Hamas’ cross-border offensive on October 7, 2023.

Israel’s offensive has displaced nearly the entire population of the region amid an ongoing blockade that has led to severe shortages of food, clean water and medicine.

Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its actions in Gaza.

*Written by Ikram Kouachi

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