Hamas lauds Al Jazeera’s ‘highly professional’ coverage of Israel-Gaza conflict

A Hamas delegation pays a visit to the temporary bureau of Al Jazeera in Gaza and lauds the Qatari news agency for its coverage of the recent conflict between Israel and terror groups in the coastal enclave.

Hamas deputy chief in Gaza Khalil al-Hayya tells Al Jazeera reporters that they “demonstrated their belonging to the cause of the oppressed Palestinian people,” according to a statement from the Islamist group.

“What distinguishes the Palestinian journalist [from others] is that he has a national message,” Hayya says. “We saw a high level of nationalism and a national tone in Al Jazeera’s coverage.”

The senior Hamas official also lauds the agency’s “high professionalism” and noted the sacrifice of its reporters, whose office was leveled by the IDF on the fifth day of the 11-day conflict. Israel says Hamas had been using several offices in the al-Jaala media tower, including one where operatives were working on technology that could jam the Iron Dome missile defense system.