CNN is facing strong backlash for its coverage of the condition of three Israeli hostages, Ohad Ben Ami, Eli Sharabi, and Or Levy, who were released on Shabbos. The network compared their physical state to that of Palestinian prisoners freed by Israel, which caused widespread outrage.
Many in Israel and its allies were shocked by the images of the three men, now deemed by Israel to be in critical condition, as well as the extreme weight loss they endured after 15 months in captivity.
The men, civilians who were kidnapped from their homes and a music festival in southern Israel on October 7, were freed as part of a ceasefire agreement with Hamas – a group that CNN referred to as “militants.”
The CNN report described the three men as “thin and pale,” and then contrasted their condition with that of Palestinian security prisoners released by Israel. Many of these prisoners had been incarcerated for crimes such as murdering Israeli civilians in terrorist attacks. The Palestinian prisoners were described as “emaciated and in poor health,” “weak and thin” with “signs of physical abuse and starvation.”
The article omitted key details about the personal tragedies faced by the hostages. Ori’s wife was murdered on October 7 by Hamas terrorists, but CNN failed to mention who was responsible for the murder. His three-year-old son was left without parents as Hamas continued to hold Ori for more than a year.
Eli, who was unaware that his wife, daughter, and brother had been killed, returned to Israel only to be informed of their deaths. The CNN article also neglected to point out that Hamas was responsible for these acts.
While the article mentioned allegations of abuse from released Palestinian prisoners, it failed to address the significant abuses the three Israeli hostages endured.
International human rights lawyer Arsen Ostrovsky criticized CNN’s coverage, taking to X/Twitter to express his outrage: “If you’re wondering why there is such little trust in mainstream media, look no further than this inexcusable headline by @CNN. There is absolutely no equivalence here, none whatsoever. The Israelis being released were hostages, civilians – starved, tortured and emaciated. The Palestinian prisoners being released are terrorists and mass murderers with blood on their hands, who nonetheless were still afforded every right under international law – unlike the women, children, elderly, and these emaciated men, they held captive.”
{Matzav.com}