The ABC is investigating allegations that a Gaza-based freelancer who supplied footage to its 7.30 program had links to Hamas.
At a Senate estimates hearing, ABC executives said they were seeking further evidence from Israeli authorities before reaching any conclusions. ABC editorial director Gavin Fang said the broadcaster regarded the allegations as “very serious”.
Fang said he had contacted the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) for more information about freelance videographer Roshdi Sarraj, 31, who was killed in Gaza in an Israeli air strike on October 22, 2023.
7.30 host Sarah Ferguson publicly mourned Sarraj’s death, offering condolences to his family and describing him as “brave” and an “excellent journalist”.
The allegations followed a report in The Australian claiming Sarraj was among media workers killed in Gaza whom the IDF alleges had connections to Hamas.
When Liberal senator Sarah Henderson asked whether the ABC had investigated the claims, Fang replied: “Yes, absolutely.”
“We have attempted to get some clarification from the IDF about their position on this, and as yet, they have not provided us with any evidence to suggest otherwise,” Fang said.
“We have asked for further evidence from the IDF, and until we are able to find something that goes to the veracity of that claim, I don’t think it’s incumbent on us to make a decision, to declare that that person was a member of Hamas.”
The ABC was questioned over claims that journalist Roshdi Sarraj (pictured) was a Hamas fighter
ABC editorial director Gavin Fang said the public broadcaster was treating the allegations very seriously
Henderson also questioned ABC managing director Hugh Marks about the safeguards used to ensure Hamas members were not being hired by the broadcaster.
“I just want to ask what the ABC’s doing to vet journalists and media companies in Gaza to make sure that you are not hiring terrorists,” she said.
Marks said most ABC reporting was produced by the broadcaster’s permanent staff.
“On occasion we will hire stringers. These are often people that facilitate our access to or use of facilities in these places,” Marks said.
“They’re not necessarily providing journalism or influencing editorial.”
He said the “vast majority” of the ABC’s editorial content came from “long-standing and proven ABC-verified journalists”.
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Marks acknowledged that in locations where access is severely restricted, including Gaza, the ABC sometimes depends on local contractors for footage and logistical assistance.
“Sometimes we will reach out to stringers or third-party companies to seek to get access or footage or whatever it might be,” he said.
Managing director Hugh Marks (pictured) said the network vetted material supplied to it
“We go through a vigorous process to ensure that we vet everything that is delivered to the ABC.”
‘There is an allegation in this particular case that a stringer or a fixer, someone helping us on the ground rather than producing journalism, is involved in Hamas,’ Marks said regarding Sarraj.
‘We are taking very seriously the nature of that allegation and seeking to verify it ourselves.’
Henderson noted that ID numbers allegedly linking Sarraj to Hamas had been published on the IDF’s website and asked when the ABC had sought clarification from Israeli authorities.
‘I don’t have the exact date in front of me, Senator,’ Marks replied.
‘It was in the past couple of weeks.’
The senator also questioned whether the ABC had reviewed a Committee to Protect Journalists list that included individuals the IDF claims were Hamas operatives.
Marks said the broadcaster had discussed the issue with the organisation but could not confirm whether every name had been checked individually.
Senator Sarah Henderson (pictured) pressed the ABC over knowledge of Sarraj’s background
Sarraj, who was killed in an Israeli airstrike aged 31, worked as a stringer for the ABC’s 7.30
‘I don’t have information about whether we’ve gone name by name, if that is what you’re asking,’ he said.
Marks was then asked whether the ABC had cross-checked the list to ensure it had not directly or indirectly engaged any of the individuals named.
Marks said he would take the question on notice.