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Mariam Elsayeh: Influential British Journalism Union Activist & Peddler of Anti-Israel Extremism Online

The body of a motorist lies on a road following a mass-infiltration by Hamas gunmen from the Gaza Strip, in Sderot, southern Israel October 7, 2023. REUTERS/Ammar Awad

One of the main British organizations spearheading campaigns against Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza is the National Union of Journalists (NUJ), one of the top trade unions representing media workers in the United Kingdom.

From demonstrations and memorial services, to petitions and media appearances, the NUJ has been incredibly vocal about its opposition to Israel’s conduct in the Gaza Strip.

One of the individuals at the forefront of the NUJ’s anti-Israel campaign is Mariam Elsayeh, a freelance journalist for Al Jazeera, who has also contributed to BBC Arabic and the New Arab. Elsayeh also serves as a training officer for the freelance branch of the NUJ, and sits on the NUJ’s Ethics Council.

As a member of the Ethics Council, Elsayeh is tasked with working to “improve standards of journalism,” “to educate the public about the role of journalists,” and to educate journalists and students “about better practice.”

However, Elsayeh’s social media activity calls into question her ability to serve as an authority on professional journalistic standards. Instead of exemplifying journalistic integrity, Elsayeh’s social media is full of misinformation, the whitewashing of terrorism, and the platforming of extremist voices.

Fake News: Mariam Elsayeh’s Misinformation

Since the October 7 Hamas massacre and subsequent war between Israel and the terror group, Mariam Elsayeh’s social media has been interspersed with misinformation about the Jewish State and its fight against Palestinian terror groups.

For example, at the beginning of the war, an explosion rocked Al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza City. Hamas officials initially claimed that an Israeli strike on the hospital had killed 500 people. It was later determined that the explosion had been caused by an errant Islamic Jihad rocket, that it had occurred in the courtyard of the hospital, and that the number of casualties was lower than first reported.

Although many mainstream media organizations initially echoed Hamas’ unsubstantiated claims as fact, Elsayeh took it one step further, ludicrously tweeting that 1,000 people had been killed at the hospital, essentially doubling Hamas’ fake casualty count.

In another instance in October 2023, Elsayeh tweeted about an Israeli counter-terror operation in the West Bank, claiming that there was, “No Hamas in west bank [sic],” implying that Israel was going after normal Palestinians and not terrorists.

Any observer of the region (which Elsayeh appears to be) would know that this claim is completely false and that Hamas is one of several terror organizations embedded within Palestinian areas of the West Bank.

Along with her misinformation, Elsayeh has also used her social media presence to mischaracterize Israel’s war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

As far back as November 2023, Elsayeh referred in a post on X (formerly Twitter) to Israel’s conduct in Gaza as a “genocide,” a legal term that Israel’s counter-terror operation in the enclave does not qualify for.

Even more heinously, Elsayeh later referred to it as the “Gaza Holocaust” (which she even misspelled). Not only is this an example of ahistoric Holocaust inversion, but it is a breach of the widely accepted IHRA working definition of antisemitism.

See No Evil: Mariam Elsayeh’s Whitewashing of Terrorism

One of the most insidious aspects of Elsayeh’s social media presence is her whitewashing of terrorists, presenting them in a positive light or downplaying their terrorist activities.

For example, early in the war, Hamas released two elderly female Israeli hostages near the end of October 2023. In the video of her release, Yocheved Lifschitz shook hands with the Hamas terrorist who released her to the Red Cross.

Elsayeh tweeted twice about this handshake (here and here), in an attempt to create the impression that Hamas terrorists were on good terms with their hostages.

In the second tweet, Elsayeh shared a clip from an interview with Lifschitz where she said that she was “treated kindly” and provided for. Elsayeh misquoted Lifschitz (who she referred to as a “prisoner”) as saying that she was “treated with respect” but also conveniently omitted the negative comments that Lifschitz made about her abduction, referring to it as “hell” and suffering elements of physical abuse.

In another instance, Elsayeh valorized Ismail al-Ghoul, an Al Jazeera journalist who is accused of being a member of Hamas’ elite Nukhba force.

During the first ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in November 2023, Elsayeh profiled three female Palestinian prisoners who were released as part of the deal, referring to two as “holy prisoners” and portraying them as innocent victims of Israeli tyranny.

However, all three were convicted and served prison time on terror charges. Shorouk Dawyat, Aisha Afghani, and Fadwa Hamada had all committed stabbing attacks against Israelis.

In a particularly grotesque example, Elsayeh’s Instagram post about Dawyat shared an invented story where she was on her way home when a “settler pig” tried to remove her veil and shot her. In reality, Dawyat approached two Jewish men in the Old City of Jerusalem, stabbed one, and attempted to stab the other before she was shot.

For Elsayeh to acclaim a terrorist as a “holy prisoner” — and to also spread a fantastical story that absolves the terrorist of all crimes — is not only heinous, but also the height of journalistic malpractice.

Jackson Hinkle & Neturei Karta: Mariam Elsayeh’s Platforming of Extremists

Along with her misinformation and whitewashing of terrorism, Mariam Elsayeh has also platformed extremist voices on social media.

For example, Elsayeh has retweeted a couple of posts by Jackson Hinkle, an influencer who peddles in antisemitism, disinformation, and propaganda that supports authoritarians like Russia’s Vladimir Putin and Syria’s now-deposed leader Bashar al-Assad.

Elsayeh has also retweeted Mohammed El-Kurd, a poet-activist who has shared antisemitic material and admitted to spreading libels about Israel, and Anastasia Maria Loupis, a conspiracy theorist known for spreading antisemitic messaging online.

Elsayeh also enjoys platforming the most extreme anti-Zionist voices within the Jewish community, including Neturei Karta and Jews for Palestine, in her writings and on social media.

By doing so, Elsayeh seeks to create the false impression that there is a strong anti-Israel voice within the Jewish community, when this is just wishful thinking detached from reality on her part.

 

 

How can Mariam Elsayeh fulfill her role on the Ethics Council of the National Union of Journalists when her social media presence exemplifies the antithesis of what that position is supposed to stand for?

Instead of upholding journalistic standards and serving as an authority on best journalistic practices, Elsayeh has stooped to the morally repugnant position of peddler of misinformation, promoter of extremism, and whitewasher of terrorism.

The author is a contributor to HonestReporting, a Jerusalem-based media watchdog with a focus on antisemitism and anti-Israel bias — where a version of this article first appeared.

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Israeli Foreign Minister Says ‘No Place’ for Macron Visit if France Continues With Palestinian State Recognition

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar attends a press conference with German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul (not pictured) in Berlin, Germany, June 5, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Christian Mang

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar on Thursday urged his French counterpart to drop France’s plan to recognize a Palestinian state, saying that French President Emmanuel Macron is not welcome to visit the Jewish state if Paris “persists in its initiative and in efforts that harm Israel’s interests.”

According to a statement from his office, Saar spoke with French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, calling on him to reconsider France’s initiative to recognize a Palestinian state.

He warned that such a move would “undermine stability in the Middle East and harm Israel’s national and security interests.”

As long as France proceeds with its planned unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state this month, Saar said that there would be “no place” for Macron to visit Israel.

“Israel seeks good relations with France, but France must respect Israel’s position when it comes to matters essential to its security and future,” the top Israeli diplomat said during their conversation.

Macron plans to recognize a Palestinian state at the United Nations General Assembly this month as part of its “commitment to a just and lasting peace in the Middle East,” even though nearly 80 percent of French citizens reject the move.

Israeli officials have condemned the initiative, calling it a “reward for terrorism” and warning that it would undermine future diplomatic talks.

Saar has criticized France’s recent actions, accusing it of consistently undermining Israel on the international stage.

More recently, tensions escalated after his French counterpart asserted the Palestinian Authority (PA) had ended its “pay-for-slay” program — a claim the Israeli diplomat firmly rejects as false.

The PA, which has long been riddled with accusations of corruption, has also maintained for years a so-called “pay-for-slay” program, which rewards terrorists and their families for carrying out attacks against Israelis.

Under the policy, the Palestinian Authority Martyr’s Fund makes official payments to Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails, the families of “martyrs” killed in attacks on Israelis, and injured Palestinian terrorists. Reports estimate that approximately 8 percent of the PA’s budget is allocated to paying stipends to convicted terrorists and their families.

Abbas had announced plans to reform the system earlier this year, but the PA has continued to issue payments, with top officials saying they will not deduct any of the funds.

“You speak of the war, but your moves against the State of Israel not only undermine stability and will not bring peace — they prolong the war. And it is no coincidence that Hamas praised them,” Saar said in a post on X, responding to Barrot in a heated public exchange.

“The rest is empty words and illusions. Back in Paris and at conferences, you may believe and promote these illusions. Here, we will not buy them,” the Israeli diplomat continued.

During his conversation with Barrot, Saar also argued that PA President Mahmoud Abbas has avoided holding elections for nearly 20 years due to his limited support among Palestinians, making him an unreliable interlocutor.

Western powers have been negotiating with the PA on conditions for Gaza governance after Hamas is removed from power, while the PA continues to pledge reforms — a strategy experts say is unlikely to succeed given its lack of credibility and ongoing support for terrorism against Israel.

According to a poll by the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research (PCPSR), if an agreement is reached to end the war in Gaza, only 40 percent of Palestinians “support the return of the PA to managing the affairs of the Gaza Strip,” while 56 percent oppose it.

US officials have also condemned France’s initiative to recognize a Palestinian state, arguing that the move would do little to advance peace.

On Thursday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington has warned other countries that recognizing a Palestinian state would only create more problems.

“We told all these countries, we told them all, we said if you guys do this recognition stuff it’s all fake, it’s not even real, if you do it you’re going to create problems,” Rubio said during a press conference in Ecuador.

“There’s going to be a response, it’s going to make it harder to get a ceasefire and it may even trigger these sorts of actions that you’ve seen, or at least these attempts at these actions,” the US official continued, referring to Israel’s plans to consider annexation in the West Bank.

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Sen. Tom Cotton Urges FBI to Investigate Palestinian Youth Movement Leader Who Called for Targeting F-35 Program

US Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AK) speaks during a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, March 11, 2024. Photo: REUTERS/Julia Nikhinson

US Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR) has called on the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to investigate a pro-Hamas activist who urged supporters to sabotage the US supply chain for the F-35 fighter jet, one of America’s most advanced military assets and a critical component of Israel’s defense.

In a letter sent to FBI Director Kash Patel on Wednesday, Cotton warned that Aisha Nizar, a leader and organizer of the Palestinian Youth Movement (PYM), “directly endangered US national security” when she addressed a Palestinian conference in Detroit last week. Durin the event, Nizar told attendees that targeting “nodes” in the F-35 production process could have “a huge impact” on the program.

“We need to be surgical. We need to be strategic … Because there are many different points of these supply chains of death that we can intervene in and we must intervene in,” Nizar said at the People’s Conference for Palestine.

The F-35 program is widely regarded as a cornerstone of US and allied air power, and Israel is the only country in the Middle East authorized to operate the jets. Cotton argued that calls to undermine the program represent not just anti-Israel activism, but also a direct assault on American workers and defense readiness.

“Nizar’s statements constitute direct incitement of violence against US national security interests by advocating for actions against the men and women who build the F-35,” Cotton wrote. He urged the FBI to “immediately examine Nizar’s actions and take any necessary actions to mitigate the threat.”

PYM has emerged as one of the most radical anti-Israel, pro-Hamas groups in the US since the war in Gaza started, organizing raucous protests targeting Jewish and pro-Israel events across the country.

Nizar has previously faced legal trouble over her role in disruptive protests amid the Israel-Hamas war, including a demonstration that shut down the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. Cotton, an outspoken supporter of the US-Israel strategic alliance, said her ties to PYM, which he has accused of harboring antisemitic views and benefiting from questionable tax-exempt donations, warrant closer scrutiny.

“The defense supply chain is a key to our military’s ability to fight and win wars. We must protect that supply chain from all enemies, foreign and domestic,” he concluded in his letter.

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Israeli Military Says It Controls 40% of Gaza City, Plans to Expand Operation in Coming Days

Palestinians inspect the site of an Israeli strike on a tent, outside Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, Sept. 4, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Khamis Al-Rifi

Israel controls 40 percent of Gaza City, a military spokesperson said on Thursday, as thousands of residents defied Israeli orders to leave in order for soldiers to target Hamas terrorists without civilians in harm’s way.

In Gaza City, Israeli forces have advanced through the outer suburbs and are now a few kilometers (miles) from the city center.

“We continue to damage Hamas’s infrastructure. Today we hold 40 percent of the territory of Gaza City,” Israeli military spokesperson Brigadier General Effie Defrin told a news conference, naming the Zeitoun and Sheikh Radwan neighborhoods. “The operation will continue to expand and intensify in the coming days.”

“We will continue to pursue Hamas everywhere,” he said, adding that the mission will only end when Israel‘s remaining hostages are returned and Hamas’s rule ends.

Defrin confirmed that army Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir told cabinet ministers that without a day-after plan, they would have to impose military rule in Gaza. Far-right members of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government have been pushing for Israel to impose military rule in Gaza and establish settlements there, which Netanyahu has so far ruled out.

Israel launched the offensive in Gaza City on Aug. 10, in what Netanyahu says is a plan to defeat Hamas terrorists in the part of Gaza where Israeli troops fought most heavily in the war’s initial phase.

The campaign has prompted international criticism because of the humanitarian crisis in the area and has provoked unusual levels of concern within Israel, including accounts of tension over strategy between some military commanders and political leaders.

The Israeli military has said it is operating on the outskirts of Gaza City to dismantle terrorists’ tunnels and locate weapons.

Much of Gaza City was laid to waste in the war’s initial weeks in October-November 2023. About a million people lived there before the war, and hundreds of thousands are believed to have returned to live among the ruins, especially since Israel ordered people out of other areas and launched offensives elsewhere.

Israel, which has now told civilians to leave Gaza City again for their safety, says 70,000 have done so, heading south. Palestinian officials say less than half that number have left and many thousands still lie in the path of Israel‘s advance.

The war began on Oct. 7, 2023, when Palestinian terrorists led by Hamas attacked southern Israel, killing some 1,200 people, most of them civilians, and taking 251 hostages into Gaza.

Israel responded with a military campaign aimed at freeing the hostages and dismantling Hamas’s military capabilities and political rule in neighboring Gaza.

Prospects for a ceasefire and a deal to release the remaining 48 hostages, 20 of whom are thought to still be alive, appear dim.

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