Guardian staff member threatens to quit in outrage as Hamas coverage leaves them distressed
A general view of the Guardian Newspaper offices
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A staff member at The Guardian has threatened to leave after launching a search for a new job in outrage after the newspaper’s “upsetting” Hamas coverage left them distressed.
The employee is planning to leave the company after feeling uncomfortable with fellow staff who “dismissed Jewish pain”.
Writing in Jewish News, the anonymous staff member revealed they raised concerns about aspects of The Guardian’s reporting.
The member of staff, who is Jewish, claimed colleagues laughed at a picture of an Israeli flag burning.
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They wrote: “I email the editors. I tell them that my newspaper’s coverage has been upsetting.
“They tell me that their thoughts are with my family but they stand by the paper’s reporting.
“I hear colleagues complaining about the newspaper’s ‘American readers.
“They’re always accusing us of antisemitism’. They’re laughing.”
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A tourist reads a copy of The Guardian newspaper in the lobby of a hotel
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It also referred to articles including death counts for Palestinians but not Israelis.
Their opinion piece concluded: “Now is not the time for colleagues to dismiss Jewish pain or publish inflammatory op-eds which will spark more violence.”
The Guardian recently sacked long-standing cartoonist Steve Bell after drawing a picture of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Israel was attacked by Hamas terrorists on the 7th of OctoberGETTYBell’s cartoon showed Netanyahu operating on his own stomach as he cut an outline of the Gaza Strip.
A GNM (Guardian News and Media) spokesperson said: "The decision has been made not to renew Steve Bell's contract.
“Steve Bell's cartoons have been an important part of the Guardian over the past 40 years - we thank him and wish him all the best."
The Guardian also issued an apology earlier this year after a cartoon depicting BBC chairman Richard Sharp was blasted as antisemitic.
Responding to the article in Jewish News, aGuardian spokesperson said: "We do not believe this article bears any resemblance to the workplace culture at the Guardian.
“We do not recognise the events described and are seeking to ask the individual concerned to share specific information about any incidents so that we can investigate the facts fully.
“The Guardian and Observer's coverage of the Israel-Gaza conflict continues to be expert, thorough and fair. This is a profoundly distressing time, and we have offered support and assistance to staff who are personally affected.”