150 Media Outlets to Stage Anti-Israel Campaign Coordinated by NGOs, Leaked Docs Show
Critics argue that outlets operating based on pre-written scripts, standardized templates, coordinated global timing, and unified hashtags, represents the antithesis of independent journalism
A leaked strategic document has exposed a coordinated international media campaign designed to pressure news outlets into publishing synchronized anti-Israel content on September 1st, meant to inaccurately portray Israel as systematically targeting journalists in Gaza and barring press freedom.
The campaign, orchestrated by Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and advocacy group Avaaz, involves approximately 150 media outlets across 50 countries in what organizers describe as a "world-first" coordinated newsroom action. According to the Hamas-tied Palestinian Information Center, outlets that signed on include: “Al Jazeera, The Independent, +972, Local Call, The Intercept, Mediapart, L’Humanité, Forbidden Stories, il Fatto Quotidiano, El País, RTVE, Daraj, Mada Masr, Le Desk, and L’Orient-Le Jour (Lebanon), along with numerous outlets across Europe, Latin America, Africa, and Asia.”
The leaked documents reveal what many argue represents the antithesis of independent journalism. Rather than organic editorial decisions, participating outlets are provided with pre-written scripts and messaging; standardized visual assets and templates; coordinated timing across global time zones; and unified hashtag campaigns.
The Campaign Strategy Revealed
According to the campaign document titled "Global Media Join Forces In a World-First for Press Freedom in Gaza," participating outlets are instructed to display unified messaging claiming: "At the rate journalists are being killed in Gaza by the Israeli army, there will soon be no one left to keep you informed." The document provides detailed instructions for different media types:
Print publications: Front pages entirely or partially black with unified messaging
Online publications: Black banners with coordinated messaging linking to RSF press releases
Broadcasters: Scripted statements over black screens or with metronome sounds
The campaign includes materials translated into nine languages: English, Arabic, Hebrew, French, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, Japanese, and Chinese, indicating its global scope and ambition.
The Campaign’s False Premise
The campaign's central claim that "at least 210 journalists have been killed by the Israeli military" lacks crucial context that has emerged from military intelligence sources and independent investigations. Analysis of individual cases reveals numerous instances where individuals classified as "journalists" maintained dual roles as combatants or terror operatives.
For example, Al Jazeera reporter Anas al-Sharif, who was killed in an Israeli airstrike earlier this month, was revealed by IDF intelligence to be a member of Hamas. Similarly, Abdullah Al-Jamal, a correspondent for the Palestine Chronicle, was likewise a Hamas terrorist who held three Israelis captive in his home following their abduction on October 7th.
Writing in the Wall Street Journal on August 21, James Kirchick explained that:
“Of the 192 putative journalists on the CPJ [Committee to Protect Journalists] list, 26 were employed by or freelanced for Al-Aqsa TV, which the committee generously describes as ‘Hamas-affiliated.’ Nineteen were employed by Al-Quds Al-Youm, which the State Department says is ‘run by Islamic Jihad,’ and seven worked for Palestine Today, which the CPJ itself calls ‘pro-Islamic Jihad.’ Six worked for Al Mayadeen or Al-Manar, the former affiliated with and the latter owned by Hezbollah, and another 23 worked for outlets connected to terrorist groups ranging from Hamas and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine to the Houthis. Not counting those the IDF has accused of being terrorists themselves—including Sharif—nearly half the people on the committee’s list worked for media owned by or affiliated with terrorist organizations.”
Historical Context Challenges "Unprecedented" Claims
The campaign's assertion that Israel's restrictions on journalist access are "without precedent in modern warfare" is contradicted by multiple historical examples. Military forces have regularly restricted media access during urban combat operations, citing operational security and civilian safety concerns. U.S. forces enforced extensive media restrictions during the 2004 Fallujah assault, effectively blocking independent coverage of key phases. Throughout the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq (2001-2021), U.S. and NATO forces regularly implemented access restrictions through controlled embedding systems that limited independent journalist movement.
Under International Humanitarian Law, military commanders possess legal authority to restrict media access when journalists' presence could compromise operational security, expose troop movements, or increase civilian harm.
Press Freedom or a Coordinated Agenda?
This synchronized approach raises fundamental questions about editorial independence when advocacy organizations dictate content, timing, and messaging to newsrooms worldwide.
The revelation raises significant questions about editorial independence and the boundaries between journalism and advocacy facilitated by NGOs, particularly when coordinated campaigns target specific geopolitical outcomes during times of conflict and diplomatic upheaval.
The level of entitlement from self-designated “journalists” is really something else.
Will it never end…….😔