Palestinian Journalist Sues German Tabloid Over False Hamas Propaganda Claims
A Palestinian photojournalist in Gaza has launched a groundbreaking legal challenge against german media giant Axel Springer,alleging the company falsely branded him a hamas propagandist and violated his constitutional rights. The lawsuit, filed by Anas Zayed Fteiha, centers on an article published in Germany’s largest tabloid, BILD, and represents a first-of-its-kind legal strategy for a journalist working in Palestine. “I want to prove the truth cannot be erased by false allegations,” Fteiha told The Intercept.
The legal claim, submitted to the frankfurt am Main Regional Court, stems from a BILD article published on August 5 with the headline “This gaza photographer stages Hamas propaganda.” The piece accused Fteiha of fabricating images depicting starving Palestinians to advance a Hamas narrative. BILD published a photograph of Fteiha kneeling while photographing individuals in Gaza holding empty pots, framing the scene as a deliberate attempt to exaggerate the extent of hunger in the region. This accusation came shortly before a United Nations-backed body declared a famine in Gaza.
The BILD article repeatedly referred to Fteiha as a “journalist” while enclosing the term in quotation marks, a subtle but significant attempt to discredit his professional standing. “Actually it was a genuine moment of human suffering,” Fteiha countered in an interview with The Intercept. He fears the false accusations could endanger his life, stating, “I could be targeted simply because false reports about me were published.”
Fteiha was working as a freelancer for the Turkish news agency Anadolu when he captured the image in question, and subsequently published a range of photographs from that day. He believes the BILD reporting is part of a broader effort to discredit Palestinian journalists. “Falsely accusing me of staging propaganda exposes me to threats and undermines the supposed protections afforded to journalists,” he explained.
Fteiha is pursuing an injunction proceeding, a legal mechanism designed for expedited resolution. If accomplished, the injunction would compel Axel Springer to retract the false statements in the article and cover Fteiha’s legal expenses. As of this reporting, Axel Springer has not responded to inquiries from The Intercept. A spokesperson for BILD stated the company had not yet received the filing and therefore could not comment.
This case has the potential to set a precedent, testing the willingness of German courts to hold powerful media organizations accountable for defamatory coverage that critics argue contributes to the dehumanization of Palestinians. Just days after the article targeting Fteiha appeared, BILD published a photograph of Al Jazeera correspondent Anas al-Sharif – who was killed by an Israeli strike hours earlier – with the headline: “Terrorist disguised as journalist.”
“Journalists must – especially when it comes to war reporting – apply the highest professional and ethical standards and never report carelessly,” Resch said.”if media reports can be used to legitimise criminal decisions by the Israeli military, one can assume they will be used.”
Fteiha initially filed a cease-and-desist order on September 1, demanding a retraction and coverage of legal costs, reserving the right to pursue further damages.Axel Springer’s lawyer, Felix Seidel, rejected the request on September 4, stating the company did not intend to comply with Fteiha’s demands. The filing asserts the BILD article violated multiple standards of German press law, including publishing false claims and failing to provide Fteiha an opportunity to respond before publication – a requirement for suspicion reporting under German law.
Despite the risks,Fteiha continues to report from Gaza amidst heavy Israeli bombing and the threat of a ground invasion. “I believe my role as a journalist is to bear witness to what is happening and to convey the truth to the world – no matter the cost,” he told The Intercept.
