A CBS News producer based in the Gaza Strip has been linked to the Hamas terrorist organization and served on a Hamas-controlled municipal council.
According to an investigation by media watchdog Honest Reporting, Marwan al-Ghoul, who has worked as a producer for CBS News in Gaza for over 20 years, spoke at an official event of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine in 2018, praising the terrorists. The PFLP is designated as a terrorist organization by several countries, including the United States and the European Union, due to its involvement in deadly terror attacks against Israeli civilians.
At the event, al-Ghoul reportedly expressed gratitude to the PFLP "for their commitment to continue the struggle" and lauded the group's "martyrs," according to the PFLP's website. Honest Reporting's investigation, which analyzed Arabic media reports and al-Ghoul's social media activity, revealed a deeper affiliation between the journalist and the terror group.
The report also revealed that al-Ghoul served on the Gaza City municipality council, which is appointed by Hamas, the governing authority in Gaza. In this capacity, he was photographed with Gaza City mayor Yahya Sarraj while hosting a PFLP delegation to discuss "issues of concern to citizens and ways of cooperating."
Al-Ghoul's Facebook page indicates he resigned from the council in November 2022, though his profile still appears on the municipality's official website. The extent and duration of his involvement, as well as any potential compensation, remain unclear.
These revelations come amid ongoing scrutiny of media coverage in conflict zones, particularly regarding potential biases and security concerns. CBS News has relied heavily on al-Ghoul's work in the current war, praising his journalism in several pieces.
Honest Reporting's investigation also highlighted a Facebook post by al-Ghoul on Oct. 7, in which he prayed for the "victory" of Hamas as the group slaughtered over a thousand Israeli civilians.
