CNN and New York Times blasted for soft-touch reporting of Hamas hostages’ murders

CNN and The New York Times were blasted for their wording of reports about the killing of Israeli hostages by Hamas.

Comments poured in on social media Sunday, following reports that the body of Hersh Goldberg-Polin, 23, had been recovered in Gaza along with five others.

The Israeli American had been one of the most well-known hostages, with his parents recently speaking at the Democratic National Convention (DNC). They pleaded for a ceasefire and the hostages’ safe return.

A group representing the families of the hostages blamed Israeli Prime Minster Benjamin Netanyahu, leading the Israeli Prime Minister to issue a statement Sunday saying Israel ‘would not rest’ until justice was brought on those responsible.

CNN and The New York Times were met with accusations of soft-pedaling news of Goldberg-Polin’s slaying for saying he ‘died’ rather than being murdered.

: 

The reaction poured in on social media Sunday, following reports that the body of Hersh Goldberg-Polin, 23, had been recovered in Gaza alongside five others

‘When @CNN reports that someone “has died,” it’s usually from old age or cancer,’ wrote one person, whose reply to CNN’s post was re-shared dozens of times. 

‘Hersh was kidnapped, tortured, and murdered by Hamas, and CNN can’t even be honest about that.’

Others were similarly upset by the language used.

‘He was at the Nova music festival,’ wrote another user on X. ‘Palestinian terrorists threw grenades into the shelter where he was hiding and blew off his hand. 

‘They kidnapped him to Gaza and held him for 11 months before executing him but CNN makes it sound like he died of natural causes.’

Another added: ‘He didn’t simply “die.” He was murdered by Hamas after being tortured for almost a year in captivity.’

The CNN headline several took issue with was ‘Israeli-American hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin has died’

The flood of negative replies continued. 

‘Hersh was kidnapped and murdered,’ one observer wrote. ‘This is disgraceful journalism. Correct the article.’

‘Yes, he died,’ added another, as the post was viewed nearly 3.5million times. ‘But he died because Hamas murdered him and not by natural causes or some unfortunate accident as your post suggests.’

A similar dynamic played out in response to The New York Times’ coverage, after the publication posted that ‘Hersh Goldberg-Polin was among the six hostages who were found dead in Gaza over the weekend.’

A similar dynamic played out in response to The New York Times’ coverage 

‘Found executed not just dead. Do better,’ a commenter wrote.

‘And by “found dead,” you actually mean murdered by Hamas terrorists,’ added another.

The other victims were identified as Ori Danino, 25; Eden Yerushalmi, 24; Almog Sarusi, 27; Alexander Lobanov, 33; and Carmel Gat, 40.

Izzat al-Rishq, a senior Hamas official, said the hostages would still be alive if Israel had accepted a U.S.-backed cease-fire proposal that Hamas said it had agreed to in July. 

A group representing the families of those still in captivity demanded that Netanyahu ‘address the nation and take responsibility for abandoning the hostages.’ 

The victims were identified as Ori Danino, 25; Eden Yerushalmi, 24; Almog Sarusi, 27; Alexander Lobanov, 33; and Carmel Gat, 40; and Hersh Goldberg-Polin, 23

Goldberg-Polin parents recently spoke at the DNC, pleading for a ceasefire and the hostages’ safe return

A group representing the families of those still in captivity demanded that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ‘address the nation and take responsibility for abandoning the hostages’

‘The delay in signing the deal has led to their deaths and those of many other hostages,’ the group wrote. 

‘[The victims] were murdered in the last few days, after surviving almost 11 months of abuse, torture, and starvation in Hamas captivity.’    

Netanyahu, meanwhile, has remained intent on resolving the conflict his own way.

‘Whoever murders hostages – does not want a deal,’ he said Saturday after the six hostages’ deaths were confirmed.

He added that Israel was committed to achieving a deal to release remaining hostages while ensuring his country’s security.

No such deal has been drafted as of yet.