⚡️🇵🇸🇮🇱 NEW - An investigation by +972 Magazine, citing Israeli intelligence sources, reveals the army ran a post–October 7 “Legitimization Cell” to declassify and distort intelligence for PR, aiming to justify military actions, including killing journalists, and bolster Israel’s image abroad.

The unit sought to link Gaza reporters to Hamas, targeting Al Jazeera’s Anas Al-Sharif (killed last week) and Ismail Al-Ghoul (killed July 2024), both posthumously labeled Hamas operatives without evidence. It also falsely portrayed a journalist as a Hamas commander and alleged Gaza police had October 7 ties. Political leaders often dictated targets, with findings shared with the U.S. to secure weapons.

The unit rose after the Oct. 17, 2023, Al-Ahli Hospital blast, promoting a doctored call blaming Islamic Jihad. Israeli officials later admitted “research teams” work to “discredit” journalists but denied choosing strike targets. On Aug. 10, the army admitted targeting Al-Sharif over alleged Hamas ties, part of a smear campaign condemned by the Committee to Protect Journalists, making him the second from a six-person Al Jazeera list, after Hossam Shabat, to be killed.