Alleged Terrorists and Journalists Unite at Istanbul Conference
The Media Conference Highlights A Disturbing Collaboration
Following initial reporting in the Jewish Onliner, the upcoming Tawasol conference in Istanbul, Turkey—organized by the Palestine International Forum for Media & Communication and scheduled for January 18-19—updated its speaker list. It now includes additional individuals tied to Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), and the Muslim Brotherhood, alongside Western journalists and activists, whose participation dangerously legitimizes the pro-terror narratives that will be promoted at the event. Below is a list of just some of the speakers with terror affiliations:
Wadah Khanfar: Alleged Senior Hamas Member
Wadah Khanfar, a former Director-General of Al Jazeera Media Network, has a history of deep involvement with Hamas and the Muslim Brotherhood. Khanfar publicly praised Hamas’ October 7th attack and has close ties to Yusuf al-Qardawi, the spiritual leader of the Muslim Brotherhood. Khanfar allegedly held positions for Hamas in Sudan and South Africa. He previously sparked controversy for speaking at the “Reimagining Palestine” conference held by Georgetown University in Doha in 2024.
Tamer Almisshal: Al Jazeera Journalist and Terror Supporter
Tamer Almisshal, a prominent Al Jazeera journalist, was implicated in a 2022 IDF document that revealed Hamas had tasked him with supporting the “resistance” in its coverage of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad engaging in gun battles with the IDF. After the October 7th massacre, Almisshal tweeted: “Gaza manufactures victory and honor for its homeland and nation,” openly endorsing the atrocities committed by Hamas.
Yasser Abu Hin: Hamas Promoter at Safa News Agency
Yasser Abu Hin, a member of Tawasol's "board of trustees," runs the Hamas-affiliated news agency called Safa, which Facebook banned in 2018 for its links to Hamas. Following the October 7th massacre, Abu Hin made a celebratory post on Facebook sharing his interview with Al-Jazeera stating: “First interview from Gaza commenting on the Al-Aqsa flood.”
Munir Shafiq: Former “Jihad Brigades” Leader
Another speaker at the conference, Munir Shafiq, was one of the leaders of the terrorist group “Jihad Brigades,” a precursor to the Iranian terror proxy, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ). Shafiq met with former-Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh on multiple occasions as well as with the top aid of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. He is described as having advised the “Jihad Brigades” to align with Hamas and PIJ.
Ahmed Al-Wadiah: “Researcher” with Ties to Hamas in Mauritania
Ahmed Al-Wadiah, listed as an Al Jazeera “researcher,” has been photographed meeting with former senior Hamas official Osama Hamdan, Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri, and Hamas' Mauritanian representative. These meetings included discussing how to mobilize Mauritanians to support Hamas' “resistance” efforts.
Azzam Al Tamimi: Advocate for Hamas & Muslim Brotherhood
Azzam Al Tamimi has longstanding ties to Hamas and the Muslim Brotherhood. He has shared speaking platforms with Bassem Naim, a senior Hamas leader, and has been photographed with prominent Brotherhood figures such as Mohammad Morsi and Yusuf al-Qardawi. Tamimi’s Facebook features images celebrating these connections. Tamimi pushes pro-Hamas propaganda such as claiming that Hamas only targeted military personnel on October 7th.
Romana Rubeo: Managing Editor of Palestine Chronicle
The speaker, Romana Rubeo, is the managing editor of the outlet the Palestine Chronicle, which employed a Hamas terrorist who held Israeli hostages captive in Gaza. Rubeo has also contributed extensively to Al Jazeera.
Western Journalists Legitimizing Terrorism
The conference’s speakers list also includes Western journalists and anti-Israel “activists” such as Safa Faisal, a senior news editor at BBC World Service, American filmmaker Abby Martin, Breno Altman, a Brazilian journalist from Opera Mundi, and Robert Martin, from Australia.
Additionally, Wael Aldahdouh, whose family clan is deeply tied to Palestinian Islamic Jihad, is another participant. By involving journalists from reputable Western outlets such as the BBC alongside individuals with explicit links to Hamas and other terrorist organizations, the Tawasol conference risks further normalizing violence and propaganda.