Emily Fox Kaplan

2) There is no free speech in Gaza—Hamas murders journalists (and others) who criticize expose Hamas’s crimes (including stealing humanitarian aid.) Anyone working as a journalist in Gaza is approved by Hamas—at the very least.

Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib, among others, has covered this extensively.

(Hamas is deeply embedded in Gazan society, including at UN agencies. Remember the UNRWA teacher who was keeping a hostage in his basement? The doctors who knew that Hamas was hiding hostages in their hospital, and had a command center there?)

1) many Hamas agents, including some v high-level ones, identify as journalists. This has been extensively documented and is beyond dispute.

Howard, @rebeccamakkai.bsky.social ‘s blood libel is the accusation that the IDF is targeting *innocent* journalists. This is a crucial distinction. It is undeniable that people who wear press vests have been killed in Gaza.

But that headline elides two crucial points:

She has also blocked me on Facebook. Absolutely the conduct of someone who follows her own advice about listening to the communities one writes about. 😔

Today I was contacted by a reporter writing about her, um, patterns, who said others told him that this behavior is typical of her. V upsetting.

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An open letter to Rebecca Makkai (@rebeccamakkai.bsky.social).

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