NYT Op-Ed Writer Faces Allegations of Hamas Military Role
In a development that has sparked significant controversy, a Palestinian doctor who authored two sharply critical opinion essays about Israel in The New York Times is now being accused of holding a military rank within Hamas. According to a report by The New York Post, this allegation comes directly from the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) and the Jerusalem-based monitoring organization NGO Monitor.
Photographic Evidence Presented
Israeli officials and the watchdog group claim they have photographic proof showing Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya wearing a Hamas military camouflage uniform. The images reportedly date back to a 2016 ceremony marking the completion of Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza. These photographs were allegedly posted on the Facebook page of Gaza Medical Services, an organization that operates under the supervision of Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry.
The event in question was said to have been attended by several senior Hamas figures, including General Abu Obaida Al-Jarrah, Military Medical Services director Saeed Saoudi, and National Security Forces commander Colonel Naeem Al-Ghoul. This gathering has now become central to the allegations against the doctor.
Controversial Op-Eds Following October 7 Attacks
Following Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, which resulted in over 1,200 casualties and triggered the ongoing conflict in Gaza, Abu Safiya authored two opinion pieces for The New York Times. Published on October 29, 2023, and December 2, 2024, these essays strongly condemned Israel's military campaign in Gaza.
In one particularly emotional passage, Abu Safiya wrote: "We are suffering and paying the price of the genocide that is happening to our people here in the northern Gaza Strip." The publication of these essays drew immediate criticism from various commentators who accused major media outlets of amplifying the views of an alleged Hamas operative.
Vincent Chebat, a senior researcher at NGO Monitor, expressed strong disapproval, stating: "Those who platformed Abu Safiya must do some serious soul-searching and figure out how they ended up promoting the propaganda of a literal Hamas terrorist."
Identification and Alleged Ties
In both published op-eds, The New York Times identified Abu Safiya simply as a "pediatrician and the director of Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza." Neither the doctor nor the newspaper disclosed any alleged connections to Hamas at the time of publication.
According to Israeli authorities, Hussam Abu Safiya holds the rank of colonel within Hamas, a designation that Palestinian media outlets have reportedly used when referring to him. NGO Monitor further notes that a 2020 Facebook post published by Gaza Strip Medical Services also described him as a colonel.
Arrest and Release
The Israeli Defense Forces confirmed that during the war, Abu Safiya was apprehended on suspicion of "involvement in terrorist activities." However, he was not formally charged and was subsequently released. The Israeli Prison Services did not respond to requests for comment regarding his current whereabouts.
It is important to note that neither NGO Monitor nor Israeli authorities have accused Abu Safiya of participating directly in any specific terrorist attacks. The allegations primarily focus on his alleged military rank and organizational affiliation rather than direct involvement in violent activities.
This case highlights the complex challenges faced by media organizations when sourcing commentary from conflict zones, particularly when individuals may have undisclosed affiliations with militant groups. It also underscores the ongoing information warfare that accompanies military conflicts in the digital age.
