'Long overdue': Marco Rubio pressurizes Joe Biden to cut ties with Al Jazeera after Israeli hostage is found in Abdallah Aljamal's home

WASHINGTON, DC: President Joe Biden is under pressure to revoke the media credentials of Al Jazeera and cut off its access to the White House after reports surfaced that one of the media organization's affiliated journalists allegedly held an Israeli hostage in their family's Gaza home. 

"It is no secret that Qatar-funded Al Jazeera has long been a mouthpiece for terrorists and has peddled anti-American sentiments," Senator Marco Rubio, R-Fla, wrote in a letter to Biden sent on Tuesday evening, June 11. "As such, I urge you to immediately revoke Al Jazeera’s access to the White House until it cuts all ties with US-designated [Foreign Terrorist Organizations]," Rubio added in the letter.

Al Jazeera is funded by the Qatar government 

Al Jazeera Media Network is an international media company that offers multiple channels and publications in different languages. It started in 1996 in Qatar. It still has its headquarters in Qatar, and, according to its website, the Qatar government provides part of the funding. Numerous bureaus for the network are located in several nations worldwide.

Senator Marco Rubio's bold allegation

"The list of Al Jazeera ‘journalists’ in Gaza who are supporting terrorism is only growing," Rubio alleged, according to Fox News. "According to reports, three of the hostages rescued by Israeli Defense Forces after 246 days in captivity in Gaza, were held captive by Palestinian Al Jazeera journalist, Abdallah Aljamal, and his extended family," the Republican highlighted. 

Abdallah Aljamal was reportedly a 'Hamas terrorist'

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) alleged earlier this week that Aljamal, who was killed during the successful hostage rescue mission, "was a Hamas terrorist holding Almog, Andrey, and Shlomi hostage in his family’s home in Nuseirat." The IDF provided a screenshot of Aljamal's author page on Al Jazeera. 

Israel conducted the largest hostage recovery operation earlier this month

Four Israeli hostages were freed earlier this month as a result of Israel's largest hostage recovery operation since the war with Hamas began on October 7, 2023. After being detained for 246 days, Noa Argamani, 26, Almog Meir Jan, 22, Shlomi Ziv, 41, and Andrey Kozlov, 27, were freed by the IDF in central Gaza.

Al Jazeera said Abdallah Aljamal never worked with the network

Al Jazeera pushed back against the connection to Aljamal, claiming he "has never worked with the network, but had contributed to an Op-ed in 2019." The network's public relations X account added, "these allegations are completely unfounded."

Rubio noted that despite the claim from Al Jazeera, "he is listed on the company’s English language website as ‘a Gaza-based reporter and photojournalist’ who ‘often reports from the ongoing ‘March of Return’ protests at the fence separating besieged Gaza from Israel.’"

Abdallah Aljamal was also a contributor to the Palestine Chronicle

Aljamal also contributed to the Palestine Chronicle which the Florida senator noted is "an English-language pro-Hamas outlet led by ex-Al Jazeera official Ramzi Baroud." In previous articles for the publication, Aljamal frequently referred to the war as a "genocide."

As Rubio claimed, Baroud was once deputy managing editor of Al Jazeera online, according to his LinkedIn profile. He now serves as the editor of Palestine Chronicle. "A free press is built into the DNA of our nation," Rubio prefaced, adding "However, for years, Al Jazeera has used its platform to sow anti-American sentiments and harm our own security and those of our allies."

Senator Marco Rubio said there's no reason Al Jazeera or its employees should have access to White House

"So long as it employs journalists and reporters who operate as members and affiliates of FTOs, Al Jazeera will continue to undermine our nation from inside our government buildings," he claimed, adding, "There is absolutely no reason Al Jazeera, or its employees, should have access to you, the White House, or any of your advisors."

In addition to any other "employees who have access to the White House" he urged Biden to revoke the credentials of Kimberly Halkett, an Al Jazeera reporter covering the United States.

Internet says 'Biden is a hero'

Netizens reacted after reports concerning Biden being pressurized to revoke the media credentials of Al Jazeera and cut off its access to the White House came to light. One X user wrote, "Biden is a hero." Another wrote, "It has being long overdue, most Arab nations don't allow Al Jazeera in their country." 

"Al Jazeera is the official media mouth piece of Hamas, PIJ, Hezbollah & several muslim terrorists groups," opined one while another added, "BBC is also a part of Al Jazeera and Hamas supporters." "Everyone knows that Al Jazeera is fake news and are working for Qatar and their Islamist terrorists friends Hamas Hezbollah and Islamic jihad," said one. 

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.