Israel’s Ambassador to India Naor Gilon has expressed his concern and “extreme disappointment” with a prominent Indian news publication for featuring an interview with Moussa Abu Marzouk, a Hamas leader.
Marzouk heads Hamas’ international relations office in Doha. He gave an interview to Frontline, a prominent Indian English news magazine which is part of The Hindu Group, a news company headquartered in Chennai.
In his letter to The Hindu’s Editor-in-chief on Wednesday, Gilon compared Marzouk with Ajmal Kasab, the Laskhar-e-Taiba (LeT)* terrorist who carried out the 26/11 Mumbai terrorist attacks in 2008 as well as former Al-Qaeda** chief Osama Bin Laden.
“Moussa Abu Marzouk is not just a controversial figure, he is a known terrorist with gallons of Israeli blood on his hands,” Gilon stated in his letter, a copy of which was also posted on his account on social media platform X.
The Ambassador described the decision by the Indian publication to grant “platform” to a Hamas operative as “deeply unsettling”, in the wake of the attack on Israel by the Palestinian organization on October 7.
Gilon alleged that the Marzouk was allowed to “disseminate lies and false news without one challenge”. The Israeli envoy also noted that Hamas has been designated as a terrorist organization by the US, European Union and several other nations.
While India has officially described the Hamas' attack as “terrorism”, New Delhi doesn’t classify the Palestinian group as a terrorist organization under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA).
‘Fake News’ Imported into Mainstream Media: Envoy
Gilon accused the Indian publication of "allowingfake news” to be imported into mainstream media”.
“Not long ago, it was the duty of journalists to hold their subjects accountable for their statements and their actions. To fact check, to follow-up false statements with accuracy,” the envoy told the Indian publication.
Gilon concluded his letter by advising the Indian media to “exercise discretion” in future interviews, particularly when they involve people having a “history” of terrorism.
*proscribed terrorist group
**banned terrorist group