Hassan Eslaiah (Aslih) – The Career of a Hamas Propagandist, or a Story About Hamas’s Most Social Media Influential Mouthpiece
„According to Wikipedia, Eslaiah was a ‚freelance photojournalist and editor who worked with both international and local news organizations, including CNN and Associated Press. He headed the Alam24 news agency and was known for his extensive coverage of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. He often reported directly from the front lines and shared real-time video footage and photos on social media, where he had over a million followers. His reports during the Gaza War often shed light on the humanitarian crisis, including the destruction of infrastructure and civilian casualties. He gained international attention by publishing images and videos of the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, some of which were published by major news agencies. Aslih’s work has been widely used by global media outlets such as Sky News and The New York Times.“ (Emphasis added by Wikipedia)
That’s the description on Wikipedia.
The Allegations and the Reassurances
On November 8, 2023, the online portal HonestReporting published the article „Broken Borders: AP & Reuters Pictures of Hamas Atrocities Raise Ethical Questions“.
This article caused quite a stir. The entire press felt it was aimed at them.
HonestReporting asked some uncomfortable questions. Were “journalists” from leading news agencies “embedded” with Hamas on the morning of October 7 and did they stand by and watch the killings without intervening? Were these Palestinian “freelancers” perhaps tipped off in advance? Why were they in Israel so early? Were the news agencies tipped off in advance?
The Media’s Defensive Reaction
On October 8, *Der Spiegel* writer R. C. Schneider tweeted in alarm on “X”:
So that later, as always, he could add pompously in English:
„It really looks like „journalists“ accompanied the murderers and filmed in real time the atrocities on October 7. Unbelievable. Unbelievable.“
„Israeli GPO demands explanations. Such „journalists“, if true, were complicit of the most horrible atrocities. This is NOT how we have to do our job in a war zone!“
As if he and *Der Spiegel* hadn’t had four weeks to figure this out on their own. After all, *Der Spiegel* had also used photos by these photographers.
The subsequent *Spiegel* article simply stated:
“Pro-Israel NGO levels allegations against photojournalists from the Gaza Strip. — Did freelance photographers from the Gaza Strip have prior knowledge of Hamas’s attacks on Israel? An NGO has leveled serious allegations against Western media outlets, which, however, categorically reject these accusations.” (Der Spiegel 09/11/2023)
Bild reporter Ronzheimer stated on Springer’s own news channel: „Was he (Eslaiah) aware that something was going to happen? I have to say, I assume so. Otherwise, what else would he and his two colleagues have been doing at the border between 6:00 and 7:00 a.m. that day? It wouldn’t make sense otherwise. (The Bild reporter didn’t do his research either. Eslaiah was verifiably not in Israel until around 8:00 a.m. local time.)
Shortly after HonestReporting published its article, a photo of one of the “freelance photographers” appeared on HonestReporting’s “X” account. It shows him together with Sinwar. Sinwar is kissing him on the cheek.
ARD correspondent Jan-Christoph Kitzler responded to questions from HonestReporting: “The accusation is based on the fact that reporters were at the scene early on. Reuters has stated that the photographer working for the agency took a photo—which is now being criticized, among other things—45 minutes after the attack began. This claim can be verified using the photo’s metadata. If our colleague hadn’t arrived on the scene quickly, he wouldn’t have done his job properly. To conclude from this that journalists knew in advance about the Hamas terrorist attack is highly questionable.”
However, I did see one instance where a line was crossed: a photo showing one of the reporters standing next to Yahya Sinwar, one of the leaders of the terrorist organization Hamas. Sinwar has his arm around the reporter’s shoulder and is kissing him on the cheek. This kind of closeness is unacceptable for a journalist, especially when the person in question is one of the most wanted terrorists today. CNN, among others, has announced that it has terminated its relationship with the freelancer as a result.
In contrast, FAZ reported: “A photo alone is not proof of ties to Hamas.” (Commentary on November 11, 2023) FAZ, too, thought it was worth taking a look at Aslih’s social media accounts.
Zeit, in turn, wrote:
“In at least one case, everything points to that. Hassan Eslaiah, the man whose selfie kissing the Hamas leader (taken back in 2020) went viral around the world, appears to be a supporter of the terrorist group. The cases of the other five photographers are less clear-cut. An investigation on social media yielded no reliable evidence of ties to Hamas.”
Tatjana Ohm, a reporter for Welt, brought the heated debate to a close:
“We really need to approach this very, very objectively and assess the situation based on the known facts. AP has already issued a statement through its spokesperson, very clearly and strongly denying that they knew in advance what might happen. I haven’t heard anything from Reuters or CNN yet, but I imagine there will be a response from them as well. Now, I believe at least one of the photographers has also spoken out, saying, ‘No, no, no—there’s absolutely no question of being “embedded.” We simply noticed after two or two and a half hours that the fence was open and the terrorists had driven through. We then drove over there to report on it.’”
On November 10, 2023, the following appeared in *Der Spiegel*: “Pro-Israel NGO downplays allegations against agency photographers.”
The German media landscape was back to normal. This meant that photos taken by the so-called “agency photographers” could still be used.
The leading German media outlets were less concerned with what happened on October 7 and who these “journalists” were; they were concerned solely with their own reputation.
They didn’t even conduct their own in-depth research in the first place, because if they had, they would have noticed the actual, serious errors in Honest Reporting.
HonestReporting identified the incident as having taken place at Kibbutz Kfar Aza rather than, as would have been correct, at Kibbutz Nir Oz. (To this day, HonestReporting has not corrected this, despite my repeated reminders.)
All media outlets spread this misinformation just as they did the misinformation about the incorrect time.
Shortly after HonestReporting announced the article in question on X, I sent HonestReporting the photo of Eslaiah and Sinwar. However, I did not include the source or the caption.
I found the photo on the Telegram channel t.me/hpress on January 9, 2020, at 3:14 p.m. It is from Hassan Eslaiah’s account and has the following caption:
“A photo just taken by our beloved Abu Ibrahim.”
Neither Jüdische Allgemeine nor Springer Media ever conducted their own research. They simply copied news agency reports and, for example, relied on “X.” They, too, spread this false information.
As a result, most media outlets quickly reached a common conclusion: Aslih was merely a freelancer, and HonestReporting had simply exaggerated. For most media outlets, HonestReporting was no longer considered a credible source after this article.
So who was Hassan Eslaiah?
One thing is certain: He was definitely not a freelancer or a small-time agency photographer.
Aslih was a staunch member of Hamas. He had risen through the ranks. By 2016, he was already well-connected, even to the elite of Hamas’s leadership in Gaza. He was an ardent supporter of Sinwar and, it seems, of Obaida as well. Here, for the first time, documents, photos, and videos are being shown that paint a complete picture of him.
HonestReporting’s investigation on November 8, 2023, was, on the whole, weak and superficial, and in some cases had the opposite effect. According to this article, HonestReporting was considered to have little credibility in the media world.
Evidence of Military Integration
Some examples from Hassan Eslaiah’s biography:
Over the years, Aslih has received several awards from the terrorist organizations in power in Gaza.
Here’s an example of a caption:
“Islamic Jihad is honoring a number of media colleagues and representatives of institutions for their role in covering the Battle for the Sword of Jerusalem. During my induction into the Martyrs‘ Jihad Jibril Brigades, the military wing of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, General Command.”
Hamas has also honored Hassan Eslaiah on several occasions. Here we see him together with the current Hamas leader, Khalil al-Hayya (on the left in the photo).
It is remarkable how closely journalists‘ organizations are linked to terrorist networks in Gaza.
The award was presented jointly by the Saeeda al-Ard Foundation, the Palestinian Trade Union Federation, and the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate.
Reason: The honor was bestowed in recognition of his “active and influential role” in journalistic coverage of Israeli military operations in the Gaza Strip and in Jerusalem (specifically the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood) in 2021.
Content of the certificate: The text praises his commitment to “carrying the voice of Palestine to the world.”
Here, Aslih introduces his new colleague at Islamic Jihad as “our brother Musab Al-brim,” who has just been appointed spokesperson for Islamic Jihad.
The following incident also illustrates his importance in Gaza.
During his meeting with Palestinian businessman Munib al-Masri, Yahya Sinwar, head of Hamas in the Gaza Strip, reaffirmed the movement’s willingness to restore national unity in order to serve the Palestinian national project and achieve its goals of return and liberation. Al-Masri’s son also runs an influential Telegram channel in Gaza. Aslih photographed this meeting.
Aslih was one of the most influential figures in Gaza, and he was a member of Hamas’s military wing.
On November 3, 2025, the IDF released Hamas documents that provide further evidence of Aslih’s role in the media department of Hamas’s military wing.
Hassan Eslaiah (Aslih) ran various social media channels and a news channel in Gaza—his Telegram channel alone had at times over 700,000 followers. Given the large number of posts, it is rather unlikely that he ran these channels on his own. Even after his death, posts continue to appear regularly on these channels. The reason is simple: they are all channels run by Hamas’s media department. The media department was part of Obaida’s propaganda division. Hamas has not yet been completely defeated, so many of its structures continue to function as before.
Most of the well-known “journalists” belong to Hassan Eslaiah’s inner circle—the “journalists” who have shaped media coverage in and from Gaza in recent years. All of Eslaiah’s friends listed here were in Israel on October 7 on behalf of Hamas and watched the massacres unfold.
It is also worth noting that *Der Spiegel* correspondent Th. Schröder demonstrably follows Aslih on Instagram, for example.
In his reporting, he hasn’t said a word about Aslih’s actual activities or his ties to Hamas. On the contrary, he has consistently downplayed the importance of Aslih and the other journalists to Hamas. But one thing is certain: *Der Spiegel* also failed to investigate the Aslih case.
Otherwise, he would certainly have reported on the following post by Aslih on his Telegram channel:
The numerous posts on Aslih’s Telegram channel in February 2023 are telling. He celebrates the many attacks in which Israelis were killed by Palestinians.
One might speculate about the reasons why Aslih was never mentioned on this site. But one pressing question comes to mind:
Did German media outlets continue to work with him and his cronies after November 2023, when, for example, Reuters and CNN ceased their collaboration with Aslih and Co.?
However, the IDF and the Israeli government must also face questions about why detailed inquiries regarding Aslih were never answered.
Aslih was deeply involved with Hamas. There is no other way to explain a post from 2021 found on his social media channels:
This photo, with the caption in Arabic: „كتائب المجاهدين تختتم مناورات الوعد المفعول ‚2‘“ – The Mujahideen Brigades have concluded the “Al-Waad Al-Mufa’al 2” military exercises.
It shows the “Palestinian Resistance’s” plan of attack against Israel from August 2021, as it was carried out on October 7. The targets and routes of the attack can be seen…
I find it inexplicable that the Israeli intelligence service claims not to have recognized the true significance of this plan.
There is also a noteworthy video. It shows Hamas conducting drills for October 7. It is a training video.
In its article on November 8, 2023, HonestReporting asked the question: “Did certain ‘journalists’ in Gaza know about the attack plans in advance?” For Hassan Aslih, this question can be answered with a yes. Aslih apparently had access to Hamas’s operations center and was therefore aware of the exact attack plans for October 7. That is why it is not surprising that he got up early on October 7 and, together with Majdi Fathi, observed the attacks from Gaza. It was clear to him what was happening that morning. He was prepared and enjoyed the support of Hamas. Once it was certain that the attack had succeeded, he rode a motorcycle to Nir Oz alongside the terrorists. His propaganda mission is to document the successes of the resistance.
October 7
The Early Morning: Monitoring and Initial Reports
5:59 a.m. (always local time) in Gaza. Hassan Aslih has just posted for the first time on “his” Telegram channel.
“We have been blessed with God’s great gifts.
A soul has returned, the blessings have increased, and a new day has dawned
And I am still safe; thank God for all of this.”
Half an hour later, Hamas’s war against Israel begins.
Aslih is always up to date. The posts are coming one after another.
7:29 a.m. Aslih is on the rooftop of a high-rise building—which is part of the Titanic Grill in Khan Yunis—along with his colleague Fathi Majdi. They are monitoring the situation in Israel.
08:29 The following can be read on his Telegram channel:
Hassan Aslih (Journalist), [07.10.2023 08:29]
Live from the settlements in the Gaza Strip
„Images are circulating of the kidnapping of several Israelis in the settlements surrounding the Gaza Strip…“
Half an hour earlier, Muthana Al Najjar (see photo above) reported from the same location.
Arrival at Nir Oz: The Propaganda Mission
A burning Israeli tank is the object of everyone’s desire.
He sent the following videos and photos from Nir Oz. He was there in person when the Bibas family was kidnapped.
After their stay in Nir Oz, Ashraf Amra and Mohammed Abu Mostafa Fayq—two of Aslih’s closest friends—grin as they brag about what they saw on Instagram Live. They boast about how an Israeli soldier was dragged out of this tank and mistreated.
(The soldier in question was murdered in Gaza.)
Note
The then-deputy head of *Der Spiegel*’s foreign news department, v. Mittelstaedt, responded to my inquiry regarding these two “journalists” or “photo-hunters”—specifically, whether *Der Spiegel* would continue to use their photos—with the following words:
“Thank you very much for your message. We reviewed our collaboration with photographers in Gaza months ago and concluded that we can continue to use photos by the photographer you mentioned. He works for a reputable agency, and we see no reason to end this collaboration.”
I had attached the following to the email:
When I sent you another email with a video in response, I didn’t receive a reply.
At 8:50 a.m., he posted another video. It shows him on his way to Nir Oz. Aslih is sitting on a motorcycle. Mohammed Abu Mostafa Fayq and Mohannad Al Khateeb can be seen running behind him.
At this point, Aslih knows very well that the military leader Deif is in Gaza City.
Another video shows Aslih on his way to Nir Oz, talking on the phone while sitting on a motorcycle. Sitting in front of him is a Hamas terrorist holding a hand grenade. He will soon arrive in Nir Oz and will report live from there on the massacres.
At the same time, Muthana Al Najjar and Hamas member Ismail Abu Amr are also in Nir Oz. They, too, report on the bloodshed with great excitement. Pictures and videos are posted repeatedly to private WhatsApp chat groups. Some of these pictures and videos nevertheless find their way into the public domain.
Aslih also posts photos and videos on his social media accounts. At the same time, he contributes to Palestinian and Arab media outlets.
Caption: „Dozens of murderers“.
At 9:21 a.m., Aslih checks in again, this time from Nir Oz.
Hassan Aslih (Journalist), [07.10.2023 09:21]
Live jetzt
Aslih’s other publications on that day are also particularly noteworthy.
On his way back to Khan Yunis, Aslih runs into his closest allies once again: Al Khateeb and Fayq.
You are currently on your way to Nir Oz. These photos were taken by Fayq. They show the same tank parked in front of Aslih at 8:29 a.m.
Fayq then films the following scene:
Midday: Sharing the Aftermath in Khan Yunis
12:20 Aslih is live again. He is now back in Khan Yunis. He and his fellow passengers are sharing their impressions of what they experienced.
Fayq will later tell Ashraf Amra via Instagram about what they experienced on their way to Nir Oz.
Here is a description of what there is to see. Location: Titanic Grill, Khan Yunis
He enthusiastically describes to Amra and Fathi Majdi the massacres, looting, and hostage-takings at Kibbutz Nir Oz. He brags about the many beautiful women they saw.
The fact that he lies right from the start is worth mentioning only in passing. They were never in Sderot.
That morning, they were all in Nir Oz—or at least on their way there.
The following “friends” of Aslih were confirmed to have been in Nir Oz and in Israel:
Ashraf Amra, Hani Alshaer, Mohammed Abu Mostafa Fayq, Mohannad Al Khateeb, Ismail Abu Amr, Muthana Al Najjar, Majdi Fathi, Abed Rahim Khatib, Ali Jadallah, Mustafa Hassona.
They all witnessed the massacres firsthand. They were all trained at Presshouse Palestine. They are all among the masterminds behind the propaganda campaign against Israel. Their presence in Israel was no coincidence. For them, journalism means celebrating and glorifying the Palestinian resistance—and terrorism.
None of them later reported on this to the Western media outlets for which they had worked at times. Instead, they have spread lies about Israel, and the Western media have willingly swallowed these lies.
All of the individuals listed above are journalists trusted by Hamas and Islamic Jihad, and all are or were affiliated with Presshouse Palestine and were supported by its founder, Jadallah.
Journalists from Western media outlets, such as *Der Spiegel*, ARD, ZDF, etc., follow these terrorist supporters on Instagram, for example.
The journalists in question never reported on that either.
Above all, however, they did not report what these employees of theirs from Gaza were actually doing on October 7.
There is still a deafening silence surrounding many of the events: regarding the numerous photographers and journalists at Al-Shifa Hospital on the morning of October 7—at least 5 photographers were on site, at least 2 camera crews, and at least 4 other journalists documented the transfer of the hostages to Al-Shifa. Previously unknown photos reveal the truth about the events; everything was searchable online on October 7 and afterward. Much of it has been deleted, but everything has been kept under wraps.
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