Corporate media’s “released” redux had one outlet backpedaling from backlash after an “unacceptable” post’s description of an American hostage to Hamas also slighted his parents.
“In what world did anyone find it acceptable to publish in the first place?”
More than nine months after terrorists triggered a counteroffensive from Israel, savagely abusing, mutilating and murdering hundreds of men, women and children while taking scores hostage, dozens remain in the hands of Hamas in Gaza.
Friday, after The Washington Post covered how parents Ronen and Orna Neutra attended the Republican National Convention with a plea to see their 22-year-old son, Omer, returned home along with the other hostages, the newspaper found itself apologizing for a social media post’s breakdown of the article.
“A previous post referencing the below story was unacceptable and did not meet our editorial standards, and The Post has deleted it,” the outlet detailed after their story was published Thursday. “The reporter of the story was not involved in crafting the tweet. We have taken the appropriate action regarding this incident.”
A previous post referencing the below story was unacceptable and did not meet our editorial standards, and The Post has deleted it. The reporter of the story was not involved in crafting the tweet. We have taken the appropriate action regarding this incident.…
— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) July 19, 2024
Following the article’s publication, the Post made the point of highlighting the questionable figures from the Gaza Health Ministry as to the number of purported civilian casualties from the Israel Defense Force’s efforts to wipe out Hamas while referring to the American hostage as “missing.”
“Omer Neutra has been missing since the Oct. 7 attack on Israel. When his parents speak publicly, they don’t talk about Israel’s assault on Gaza that has killed over 38,000 Palestinians, according to local officials. Experts have warned of looming famine,” wrote the newspaper’s social media account.
Among those calling out the “thoughtless” coverage, Anti-Defamation League CEO Jonathan Greenblatt shared a screenshot of the since-deleted post and wrote, “Are you kidding me, @washingtonpost? You may have deleted the post, but the thoughtless characterization of Omer Neutra’s parents — who have spent the last 287 days not knowing the fate of their son after he was kidnapped by terrorists on Oct 7 — remains in your article.”
“In what world did anyone find it acceptable to publish in the first place? And to add insult to injury, the article cites ‘local officials,’ aka the Gaza Health Ministry, which is run by Hamas — the terror organization that launched the barbaric 10/7 massacre that led to the ongoing war,” he added.
Are you kidding me, @washingtonpost? You may have deleted the post, but the thoughtless characterization of Omer Neutra’s parents – who have spent the last 287 days not knowing the fate of their son after he was kidnapped by terrorists on Oct 7 – remains in your article.
In what… pic.twitter.com/hHY4FrHrVI
— Jonathan Greenblatt (@JGreenblattADL) July 19, 2024
In early June, hostage Noa Argamani, Almog Meir Jan, Andrey Kozlov and Shlomi Ziv had been brought home after a rescue mission found the three men were being held at the home of Abdallah Aljamal, a contributor to The Palestine Chronicle.
While Jan had since gone on to file suit against the nonprofit People Media Project, raising concerns that the former captor appeared to have been “ultimately subsidized…by U.S. taxpayers,” as Aljamal was afforded the “U.S. platform to write and disseminate Hamas propaganda,” CNN had faced blowback for their own skewed coverage that had referred to the mission as a “release” of hostages.
Joining Greenblatt in unloading on the Post, others sounded off on the newspaper for their original take as well as for the non-apology and the continued use of the term “missing” to describe Neutra’s hostage situation.
What difference does it make if the author crafted the tweet when basically the same ridiculous and insulting language was used in the article?
— faitaccompli (@fateaccomply) July 19, 2024
One must ask – why must the Washington Post twist the truth when it comes to Jews?
Omer is not missing.
He was kidnapped by Hamas terrorists.What is going on over at @washingtonpost?! https://t.co/DfkGmWAiEj
— StopAntisemitism (@StopAntisemites) July 19, 2024
There is a fundamental corruption within the Washington Post to intentionally use words not reflecting the reality on the ground.
In general journalists today have elevated themselves to experts. Objectivity is not part of their mission statement anymore.
— Johanna (@Johanna53187776) July 19, 2024
What is wrong with you?!
He is not MISSING!!!!
He was kidnapped and being held hostage.— Dina Dinkin (@DinaDinkin1982) July 19, 2024
I doubt the action was “appropriate” considering the first line of your article still says Omer is MISSING as if he got lost on his way home. He was KIDNAPPED and your journalist is heartless to describe it this way.
— Sarah Leshner (@SaritaLesh) July 19, 2024
We await an apology from @jslaternyc @murraymatt @svance @jeffbezos and everyone else associated with @washingtonpost .
— Christina Hoff Sommers (@CHSommers) July 19, 2024
Native of Brooklyn, NY, Kevin Haggerty is a graduate of Hunter College where he studied Cultural Anthropology and Geography. An avid reader and truth seeker, he currently resides in Texas with his wife and their dog and, when he isn't researching current events and their impacts, you'll find him spending time with friends and family or working on his next novel.
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