Israeli unit tasked with smearing Gaza journalists as Hamas fighters – report

Israeli-Palestinian magazine says IDF legitimisation cell' set up to blunt global outrage over killing of media staff

A special unit in Israel's military was tasked with identifying reporters it could smear as undercover Hamas fighters, to target them and to blunt international outrage over the killing of media workers, the Israeli-Palestinian outlet +972 Magazine reports.

The legitimisation cell" was set up after the 7 October 2023 Hamas attack to gather information that could bolster Israel's image and shore up diplomatic and military support from key allies, the report said, citing three intelligence sources.