On the first anniversary of the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel, in which 1,200 people were murdered and some 240 were kidnapped to Gaza, many journalists in Qatar, particularly at the Qatari Al-Jazeera outlet, posted photos and videos glorifying the attack on their X accounts. They praised the attack and gloated over the suffering it had caused Israel, and one even expressed his hope that the country would disappear.
These journalists called the October 7, 2023 attack, named "Al-Aqsa Flood" by Hamas, "a magnificent day" that "restored the honor to our nation" and shattered the dream of the Jews and the Zionists, and also called it "the most important event in modern history." Several expressed their delight at Hamas's ability to fire rockets into central Israel a year after the attack despite the war being waged against it.
This report presents some of the posts on X by these journalists.
Senior Al-Jazeera Presenter: October 7 – The Day That Restored Our Nation's Honor
On October 6, 2024, the day before the anniversary, Jamal Rayyan, a journalist and veteran presenter on Al-Jazeera, shared a poster on his X account depicting the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem and a large, glowing number seven, and wrote: "This is the day that restored the honor and prestige to [our] nation."[1] He later deleted the post.
X.com/jamalrayyan, October 6, 2024
Qatari Journalist: The Blessed Al-Aqsa Flood On October 7 Shattered The Dream Of The Jews
Qatari journalist Abdullah bin Hamad Aal Athbah, a former editor of the Qatari Al-Arab daily, posted a photo of a Hamas operative with a captive Israeli soldier and wrote: "A year has passed since the blessed Al-Aqsa Flood began on October 7, which shattered the dream of the Jews and the Zionists and of Zionism. This is the campaign of liberation through which occupied Palestine restored the honor of the Islamic nation and stopped the project of the expansion of imperialism in our Arab region. Palestine fights in all our names, and there is no honor for the pro-Zionist [Arabs]. Thank you Gaza."[2]
X.com/A_AlAthbah, October 7, 2024
In another post, Aal Athbah shared a video glorifying the October 7 attack that included footage from it, writing: "The apartheid regime that the Zionist Jews created is on its way to destruction with the power of Allah, and [thanks to] the hearts of the people of Allah, the believers who kept their promise to Allah. Our nation stands with Palestine, and the freedom fighters in the world are on our side! This is the Al-Aqsa Flood, October 7, of glory and honor that started from Gaza..."[3]
X.com/A_AlAthbah, October 7, 2024
Editor Of Al-Sharq Daily: October 7 – The Dawn Of Our Nation, That Will Continue On This Path
A video posted on X by Jaber Al-Harmi, editor of the Qatari Al-Sharq daily, also included footage of the October 7 attack. It concluded by showing Hamas leaders watching coverage of the attack on Al-Jazeera TV, and reciting a prayer of thanksgiving. Al-Harmi wrote: "October 7, 2023, the dawn of the people of our nation, the people of our nation will continue to follow this path…"[4] (view the MEMRI TV clip of this prayer and prostration here).
X.com/jaberalharmi, October 7, 2024
Al-Harmi also posted a photo of a Hamas operative with a captive Israeli soldier and wrote: "October 7, 2023, marked the start of a new phase on the path to the restoration of our rights. A phase that has begun and will not be stopped other than by the expulsion of the occupier."[5]
Columnist In Qatari Al-Watan Daily: October 7 – The Magnificent Day
Palestinian author Adham Al-Sharqawi, who writes a column for the Qatari Al-Watan daily, posted a montage of photos of Hamas terrorists invading Israel on foot, via paraglider, and in pickup trucks on October 7, as well as a graphic video showing the capture and slaughter of Israeli soldiers at outposts. He wrote: "The magnificent [October] 7." He added a quote from Quran 14:5: "...remind them of Allah's days of favor."[6]
X.com/adhamsharkawi, October 7, 2024
Editor For Al-Jazeera In English: If Only All Days Could Taste Like October 7
Sanaa El-Younoussi, Middle East editor for Al-Jazeera in English, retweeted a post that she first posted on October 7, 2023. She also added a video, and wrote, "If only all days could taste like that day."[7]
X.com/sanaa_Aljazeera, October 6, 2024
Senior Commentator On Qatari Sports Channel: October 7 – The Most Important Event In Modern History
Former Egyptian soccer star Mohamed Aboutrika, now a senior sports commentator on the Qatari Be In sports channel and a Qatar resident, posted on his X account: "7.10 – a year since the most important event in modern history. The day when a group of men from this nation brought down on the Zionist occupation the disaster it deserved, for its rampaging and crimes that have continued for over 70 years." He concluded with a quote from Quran 54:45: "[Their] assembly will be defeated and they will turn their backs [in retreat]."[8]
X.com/trikaofficial, October 7, 2024
Qatari Journalist Addresses Gazans On October 7, Expresses His Hope For Israel's End
In a post on X, Qatari columnist Abdulla Al-Amadi, who for the Qatari Al-Sharq daily, shared a poster depicting Abu Obeida, spokesman for the Hamas military wing 'Izz Al-Din Al-Qassam Brigades, against the backdrop of the Dome of the Rock. The poster also featured the Hamas inverted red triangle symbol denoting a target, as it appears in Hamas videos of the Brigades,[9] integrated with a two-finger victory sign. The text on the poster reads: "Truly the victory from the people of Allah is coming nearer [Quran 2:214] .". Al-Amadi wrote, "Oh residents of Gaza, if only you will be strong every [October] 7."[10]
X.com/Abdulla_Alamadi, October 7, 2024
In another post, Al-Amadi shared a video of the Hamas terrorist attack and wrote in English: "The 6th of October 1973 [i.e. the Yom Kippur War] was the last defeat of the Zionist regime in its war with neighboring countries, where after that, the Arab armies focused towards the interior affairs & involved very deeply into trading, while the Zionists rebuilt their army again until they reached the stage of arrogance & thought that no one would dare to fight them, as well as the urge to defeat them again! The 7th of October 2023 was the day that Allah humiliated this regime & made it flounder for a year like a rabid wounded dog seeking its end, which became more or less close inshallah."[11]
X.com/Abdulla_Alamadi, October 7, 2024
Former Al-Jazeera Managing Director: October 7 Rewrote History
Yasser Abu Hilalah, the former managing director of Al Jazeera Arabic, retweeted his message from the previous October 7 in which he had expressed amazement at the videos of the attack and had written: "Al-Aqsa Flood – what is happening is a rewriting of history... as if we are in a dream and not reality!... We must not turn the Arab humiliation into doctrine and an inescapable reality. Here they are, challenging the most arrogant force with the simplest of weapons and with the strongest will and belief... Oh Allah, be with them and they have nothing but you." He added in his retweet: "[This is what I wrote] a year ago. Humiliation is not doctrine. #AlAqsaFlood rewrote history."[12]
Al-Jazeera Presenter: Israel's Defeat On October 7 Is Forever – Its Wounds Will Never Heal
Another Al-Jazeera presenter, Ahmed Mansour, posted the same montage of photos of Hamas terrorists invading Israel on foot, via paraglider, and in pickup trucks on October 7, and wrote: "The defeat of October 7 will remain the greatest defeat of the Israeli entity and the Zionist movement since its establishment. [Israeli Prime Minister] Netanyahu may attack Iran on this day, if the U.S. gives it the green light, and this will be [Israel's] desperate attempt to eradicate the impact of this defeat, which will remain forever in history. Israel's wounds from the attack have not healed and will never heal, and no one will succeed in erasing them."[13]
X.com/amansouraja, October 7, 2024
Journalists In Qatar Cheer Hamas Rockets Fired Into Central Israel On October 7 Anniversary
Several journalists in Qatar could not conceal their joy over Hamas's firing of rockets at cities in central Israel on the October 7 anniversary. For instance, Palestinian author Adham Al-Sharqawi, who writes a column for the Qatari Al-Watan daily, posted a photo of Hamas operatives loading long-range M90 rockets, and wrote: "The ['Izz Ad-Din] Al-Qassam Brigades are bombarding Tel Aviv, after a year of [Israeli] attempts to break the Brigades. Following a year of bombing and killing, they are confronting them with M90 rockets. By Allah, these brigades are miraculous."[14]
X.com/adhamsharkawi, October 7, 2024
Hamdah Salhut, a reporter for Al-Jazeera in English, posted photos and videos showing the aftermath of the firing of the rockets at central Israel. She wrote: "One year after [October 7, 2023] the fighters in Gaza are still firing rockets at Tel Aviv."[15]
X.com/hamdahsalhut, October 7, 2024
[1] X.com/jamalrayyan, October 6, 2024.
[2] X.com/A_AlAthbah, October 7, 2024.
[3] X.com/A_AlAthbah, October 7, 2024.
[4] X.com/jaberalharmi, October 7, 2024.
[5] X.com/jaberalharmi, October 7, 2024.
[6] X.com/adhamsharkawi, October 7, 2024.
[7] X.com/sanaa_Aljazeera, October 6, 2024.
[8] X.com/trikaofficial, October 7, 2024.
[9] These videos include footage of the fighting in the Gaza Strip, in which the Israeli targets are marked with the Hamas red triangle symbol before the terrorists shoot them. See MEMRI Inquiry & Analysis Series No. 1762, The Inverted Red Triangle Symbol, Identified With Hamas And Seen In U.S. Student Protests, Is An Open Call For Attacks On Israeli Targets, May 6, 2024.
[10] X.com/Abdulla_Alamadi, October 7, 2024.
[11] X.com/Abdulla_Alamadi, October 7, 2024.
[12] X.com/abuhilalah, October 7, 2024.
[13] X.com/amansouraja, October 7, 2024.
[14] X.com/adhamsharkawi, October 7, 2024.
[15] X.com/hamdahsalhut, October 7, 2024.
