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AFP reiterates its unwavering support for its Gaza colleagues
AFP reiterates its unswerving support for its colleagues in Gaza working in the most difficult conditions imaginable, amid reports concerning certain photographs taken on October 7, the day of the Hamas attack against Israel.
An American site, HonestReporting, started the controversy on Thursday when it wrote that the presence of several Gaza-based photographers, who took photos for international media and who it said were on the scene particularly quickly, raised “ethical questions.”
This site did not mention AFP but certain publications on social media in France have since done so.
“Any suggestion of collusion between our journalists in Gaza and Hamas during the 7 October attack is disgraceful and defamatory and we reserve the right to take any action, including legal action, as a result,” said AFP Global News Director Phil Chetwynd.
Three photographers based in Gaza, who have worked full-time for more than 20 years for AFP and who are renowned internationally, deployed as soon as news of the Hamas attack broke. They were woken by the sound of artillery and rocket fire and headed towards the fence between Gaza and Israel. Each one was clearly identified as a journalist, on their helmet and bulletproof vest. The first photos near the Gaza fence were taken more than an hour after the attack started.
“By the time the first photos arrived, it was clear a major news story was already under way. We covered it as we would cover any major news story,” said Chetwynd.
“They were simply following the breaking news story as it unfolded on the ground,” added Chetwynd.
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