RFK JR CRITICIZES Israel for DETAINING Journalist Jeremy Loffredo

Robby Soave and Niall Stanage react to RFK Jr. calling for Israel to free journalist Jeremy Loffredo.

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[dao]

RFK JR has also said, from the start, that he would not support American troops used in service to Israel.

[moyyerra]

"Defending the right of someone with whom he disagrees." Laudable, I absolutely agree.

[DonaldJoeKennedy]

Well, I've yet to find a political candidate I agree 100% with. Still love you, Bobby. Closest to 100% so far.

[JayaLove]

Please more of this British/Irish guy and Amber along with Robbie. No more of that Netami or whatever her name is. The hysterical liberal woman.

[cashaeleatemla]

American Jeremy Loffredo was one of five journalists reportedly detained by the Israel Defense Forces on 9 October. He’s reportedly charged with endangering national security and aiding and sharing information with the enemy, apparently because of his reporting on Iranian strikes.

The case requires the immediate attention of American officials (Loffredo has reportedly been released from custody but is barred from leaving Israel as authorities try to build their case). But, no matter what direction it takes, it should serve to highlight the plight of dozens of Palestinian journalists who are being held incommunicado in Israeli prisons.

Loffredo’s American citizenship makes it more likely – but by no means guaranteed – that the Biden administration might actually care that he’s being detained. After all, Joe Biden was eager to claim credit for the release of the journalists Evan Gershkovich and Alsu Kurmasheva, who were held in Russian prison on bogus charges.

The administration has often claimed that it doesn’t micromanage Israel’s affairs. Israel, it reminds us, is a sovereign country albeit one whose wars we bankroll. That excuse is not available when the journalist is American (although that hasn’t helped much in the case of Shireen Abu Akleh).

It complicates matters that Loffredo reports for the Grayzone, an outlet that has been accused of carrying Russian and Chinese propaganda. The administration is embroiled in a separate (and constitutionally dubious) fight against alleged propagandists. The day of Loffredo’s arrest, another Grayzone reporter had a heated exchange with the state department spokesperson, Matthew Miller, accusing the US of recklessly risking nuclear war.

[mikemay]

The question is what is he being held for? If he’s guilty of what he’s accused of he has been foolish and careless and should be held.

[ChrisARTINI]

I wish jimmy Dore nominated for president I will vote for him

[miryafreedom]

WE MUST SUPPORT FREE SPESCH WITH NO DISCRIMINATION OF ANY KIND! Bullying and Discrimination is Forbidden 🚫!

[cashaeleatemla]

whether Loffredo’s detention is justifiable has nothing to do with Grayzone’s editorial standards – it’s solely a question of whether he was arrested for a crime, or for reporting stories authorities didn’t want told.

It remains to be seen if the Biden administration’s platitudes about press freedom only apply to journalists they like. But more broadly, it’s shameful that the US has utterly failed to hold Israel – its close ally and a recipient of billions in US military aid – accountable for even just one of the many journalists it’s arrested, detained or killed in the previous year.

Israel has killed well over a hundred journalists in the war. Strong evidence indicates that Israel deliberately targeted some of the journalists it has killed.

There have been multiple reports of journalists and their families receiving death threats from Israeli officials for their reporting – including from Mohammed Mhawish and Hassan Hamad, both of whom were subsequently attacked. Mhawish survived. Nineteen year-old Hamad’s remains had to be carried away in several boxes and bags.

But less discussed is that Israel has also arrested dozens of Palestinian journalists since 7 October 2023, as documented by groups like the Committee to Protect Journalists and Reporters Without Borders (RSF). As of 9 October 2024, according to CPJ, 43 Palestinian journalists remain imprisoned by Israel, a record number.

Many of them are held under Israel’s “administrative detention” law, which allows for indefinite detention without charge or trial. In some instances, even a detainee’s location is unknown.

Despite years of criticism that this system violates international law, Israel has doubled down on its use during the war, including against journalists. Even worse, numerous human rights organizations have reported evidence of torture, including cases documented by CPJ and RSF involving journalists.

Journalist Diaa Al-Kahlout spoke to CPJ after his release about his 33-day detention by the IDF, during which he says he was physically and psychologically tortured. Al-Kahlout said he was interrogated about his journalism and subjected to physical violence, including being blindfolded for an extended period and forced to maintain a squatting position.

He also described daily “ghosting”, or “being handcuffed with the hands upward or behind the back while blindfolded”. He lost almost 100lbs (45kg) in detention.

[Dawn-peto]

Wow.. robby actually finds something about israel "utterly contemptible"?

[theinsider]

Will you do a story about the bar complaint against Liz Cheney charging she violated her professional ethical obligations during the j6 testimony gathering? The testimony turned out to be lies.

[jmlubecky]

I wish The Hill would post the initial “Radar” written portion on their website.

[WhatEver-gupz]

Niail is so much better than all of the left learning female hosts that this show has gone through. Amber is good and that's about it.

[fastesteddiealive]

He is faaaar from criticizing anything. His support is unwavering. Look up the meaning. They could put a b in poor js head and rfk jrs support would not waver one inch he would support and praise the action as the right thing to do and admit he was wrong and j got what he deserved after he looked into it farther

[Math_is_not_about_numbers]

😂😂more than 1 billion people watched testimony of Stefanik and universities, didn't you?

[caveresch]

That's a ballsy move seeing as how he knows what they did to his Uncle and Father. Good for him. Gives me hope that Trump isn't fully lost to the masters of the government.

[obiwankenobi]

i am 100% for a strong free press - but he has been released from custody, what more do you wamt?´the authorities are free to investigate him, in case he broke their law.

[iguesss]

He NEVER criticizes Israel.. he must want some more cash