Watchdog Calls Out L-A Times For Hamas Bias

A Israeli media watchdog group publicly called out the Los Angeles Times for what it sees as bias toward Hamas in its coverage of the conflict, as well as social media re-posts by its managing editor Sara Yasin the group says show that “her sympathies lie with Hamas.”

In a piece published on Monday, The Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting and Analysis (CAMERA) highlights an LA Times article which asserts that “Israel has controlled the small Palestinian enclave of Gaza,” for decades. CAMERA noted, however, that “since September 2005, when Israel unilaterally withdrew from the Gaza Strip, pulling out every single last civilian and soldier, the Jewish state has not controlled the coastal territory.” 

The LA Times did not immediately respond to TheWrap’s request for comment. Yasin also did not respond to emails sent Monday.

Sara Yasin

Yasin was cited in the CAMERA report for her X feed, which includes reposted assertions that Israel is “practicing genocide” in its Gaza military response, and other messages seen by the group as supporting Hamas. In her bio, Yasin describes herself as “Palestinian-American raised on a steady diet of hummus and fried chicken. Managing Editor, @latimes.”

According to CAMERA, Yasin has revealed that “her sympathies lie with Hamas.” The piece cites retweets by the LA Times managing editor that it says are unfairly critical of Israel according to the accuracy organization. 

Yasin additionally retweeted a post on X which included comments from UN Human Rights Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese, stating: “Israel has already carried out mass ethnic cleansing of Palestinians under the fog of war … Again, in the name of self-defense, Israel is seeking to justify what would amount to ethnic cleansing.”

CAMERA argues that Yasin, who oversees the daily coverage of the LA Times, does not fulfill the Society of Professional Journalists’ Code of Ethics, which states that “impartiality should still be a reporter’s goal.”