Gaza journalist refutes Israeli claims he reports from Poland not Gaza

Gaza-based journalist Motasem Ahmad Dalloul has publicly refuted claims by Israeli authorities that he is a "fake reporter" operating from Poland rather than the war-torn Palestinian territory. From his tent adjacent to his destroyed home in Gaza City's Zeitoun neighborhood, Dalloul told Anadolu he has remained in Gaza throughout two years of Israeli bombardment, continuing to document military actions against civilians in the enclave.

Technical Explanation for Location Data

Dalloul explained that like numerous journalists in Gaza, he relies on an international SIM card to maintain internet connectivity after Israeli military operations devastated local communications infrastructure. The Polish-owned "Plus" company SIM card he uses causes his social media accounts to register his location as Poland, a technical reality that "Israeli propaganda outlets seized this opportunity to launch a smear campaign against me." He emphasized he has never left Gaza during the war.

Personal Loss and Professional Determination

The Palestinian journalist has suffered profound personal losses during the war, including the deaths of his wife and three children in Israeli attacks. Despite these tragedies, Dalloul maintains his journalistic work driven by a "sense of duty" toward his people. He has worked for years as an English-language journalist, contributing analytical pieces to Western media outlets including the London-based Middle East Monitor and conducting interviews with international media organizations worldwide.

Broader Context of Journalist Targeting

Ramy Abdu, head of the Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor, characterized the Israeli campaign against Dalloul as "blatant fabrications aimed at undermining the victims' narrative." The incident occurs within a broader pattern of journalist targeting in Gaza, where over 250 media professionals have been killed during the war according to official statistics—the highest journalist death toll in any war since World War II. Since October 2023, Israeli military operations have killed approximately 70,000 people in Gaza, predominantly women and children.