Photojournalist resigns from Reuters over its 'betrayal of journalists' in Gaza
She also argued that Reuters’ willingness to “perpetuate Israel's propaganda” has not protected its own reporters from Israel’s campaign.
Canadian photojournalist Valerie Zink has resigned from Reuters after eight years, criticising the agency's stance on Gaza as a "betrayal of journalists" and accusing it of "justifying and enabling" the killing of 245 journalists in the Palestinian enclave, reports Anadolu Ajansı.
"At this point it's become impossible for me to maintain a relationship with Reuters given its role in justifying and enabling the systematic assassination of 245 journalists in Gaza," Zink wrote Tuesday on X.
She noted that she had worked as a Reuters stringer for eight years, with her photographs published by outlets including The New York Times, Al Jazeera, and others worldwide.
Zink criticised Reuters' reporting following the killing of Anas Al-Sharif and an Al Jazeera crew in Gaza, saying the agency amplified Israel's "entirely baseless claim" that Al-Sharif was a Hamas operative. This, she said, was "one of countless lies that media outlets like Reuters have dutifully repeated and dignified."
"I have valued the work that I brought to Reuters over the past eight years, but at this point I can't conceive of wearing this press pass with anything but deep shame and grief," she added.
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
She also argued that Reuters' willingness to "perpetuate Israel's propaganda" has not protected its own reporters from Israel's campaign.
Citing Israel's Monday strike on Nasser Hospital in Gaza, which killed six more journalists including Reuters cameraman Hossam Al-Masri, Zink said: "It was what's known as a 'double tap' strike, in which Israel bombs a civilian target like a school or hospital; waits for medics, rescue teams, and journalists to arrive; and then strikes again."
She further emphasised Western media's culpability, quoting journalist Jeremy Scahill, who said major outlets — from The New York Times to Reuters — have acted as "a conveyor belt for Israeli propaganda," sanitising war crimes, dehumanising victims, and abandoning both their colleagues and ethical journalism.
According to Zink, by "repeating Israel's genocidal fabrications without determining if they have any credibility" and neglecting basic journalistic responsibility, Western outlets have enabled the killing of more journalists in Gaza over two years than in major global conflicts combined, while also deepening civilian suffering.
The latest casualties bring the number of Palestinian journalists killed in Israeli attacks since October 2023 to 246.
Since October 2023, Israel's military campaign has killed more than 62,700 Palestinians and devastated Gaza, which is now facing famine.
