The New York Times has been criticized for publishing an article claiming that Hezbollah terror boss Hassan Nasrallah was a “gifted orator” who wanted “equality” for all religions.
The article, entitled ‘Protesters around the world are mourning Nasrallah’s death‘, was uploaded to the website on Saturday and quickly received a flood of comments, criticism and ridicule on social media.
The short article praised the Hezbollah terror boss, who the NYT said was a “powerful orator” who was “beloved among many Shia Muslims,” in part for providing “social services” in Lebanon.
It also stated that Nasrallah “insisted that there should be one Palestine with equality for Muslims, Jews and Christians.”
But the terror leader infamously believed in the destruction of the Jewish state and his Iran-backed militant organization carried out several deadly attacks on Jews around the world.
The New York Times has been criticized for calling Hezbollah terror leader Hassan Nasrallah a “gifted orator” who was “beloved” by his fellow Shia Muslims
Nasrallah, 64, was killed in a major aerial bombardment by Israeli forces in Beirut on Friday
A protester holds a photo of late Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah during an anti-Israel protest in Palestine Square in Tehran, Iran, September 28, 2024
Although he often claimed to be anti-Zionist and not anti-Semitic, Nasrallah was quoted in a Times article last May as saying chillingly: “If the Jews all gather in Israel, it will save us the trouble of rallying behind them worldwide.” to enter into.’
Nasrallah, 64, was killed in a major aerial bombardment by Israeli forces in Beirut on Friday – an incident that came as a huge, almost unthinkable shock around the world.
“The Times readership now includes liberal elites, politicians, communists and Islamists,” one X user wrote in response to a post highlighting parts of the article that has been viewed nearly 250,000 times.
‘This is so embarrassing. How can anyone take the NYT seriously?’ asked another user.
Another accused the Gray Lady of “jihadsplaining” and “attempting to turn explicit calls for genocide into something positive.”
Three senior Israeli defense officials told the NYT on Saturday that more than 80 bombs were dropped over several minutes to kill Nasrallah, after Israeli leaders tracked his location for months.
The sources, who remained anonymous, added that the operation was planned earlier in the week before Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu left to speak at the United Nations General Assembly.
Hezbollah confirmed Nasrallah’s death on Saturday and vowed to continue the fight against Israel.
They said: ‘The leadership of Hezbollah pledges… to continue its jihad in confronting the enemy, supporting Gaza and Palestine, and defending Lebanon and its steadfast and honorable people.’
Flames rise after an Israeli airstrike in the southern suburbs of Beirut, Lebanon on Saturday
Hezbollah supporters attend a televised speech by the group’s leader, Hassan Nasrallah, in the southern suburbs of the Lebanese capital Beirut on January 3, 2023.
Hassan Nasrallah spoke to the world on a red screen last Thursday, insisting that the deadly attacks “deserve a response” before rocket salvos are launched towards Israel.
Nasrallah had been in power within Hezbollah since February 1992, overseeing the group’s transition from a militant group forged into a political party and regional superpower during the 1982 Lebanon War, against the backdrop of the broader Lebanese civil war.
His death is seen as a huge blow to the Iran-backed group, which could potentially destabilize Lebanon as a whole.
A triumphant IDF spokesman said at his death: “Hassan Nasrallah will no longer be able to terrorize the world.”
Under the leadership of the 64-year-old Shiite cleric, Hezbollah has waged wars against Israel and participated in the conflict in neighboring Syria, tipping the balance of power in President Bashar Assad’s favor.
Ali Karki, the commander of Hezbollah’s Southern Front, and other Hezbollah commanders were also killed in the attack, the Israeli military said.
It comes as the IDF released an image on social media showing senior Hezbollah figures who had so far been ‘eliminated’ – adding that they had ‘dismantled’ the group.
Friday’s airstrike also killed more than 20 Hezbollah members along with their boss Nasrallah, Israel said.
Those “eliminated” include the head of Nasrallah’s security unit, Ibrahim Hussein Jazini, and Samir Tawfiq Dib, whom the IDF describes as “Nasrallah’s long-time confidant and advisor.”
Israel has released a graphic showing Hezbollah senior figures who had been ‘eliminated’ so far – adding that they had ‘dismantled’ the group
A Lebanese man shows a poster of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah that he found among the rubble of his home in July 2006
“Due to their close relationship with him, they played an important role in the daily operations of Hezbollah and Nasrallah in particular,” the IDF said.
A source close to Hezbollah told AFP on condition of anonymity that contact with Nasrallah had been lost since Friday evening.
He is rumored to have been killed during Israel’s last war with Hezbollah in 2006, the source said, adding that he later emerged unscathed.
The strikes also killed Ali Karake, identified in the statement as commander of Hezbollah’s southern front, and an unspecified number of other Hezbollah commanders, according to a military statement.
“During Hassan Nasrallah’s 32-year rule as Secretary General of Hezbollah, he was responsible for the murder of many Israeli civilians and soldiers, and for the planning and execution of thousands of terrorist activities,” the statement said.
‘He was responsible for directing and carrying out terrorist attacks around the world, killing citizens of various nationalities. Nasrallah was the central decision maker and strategic leader of the organization.”
White House national security spokesman John Kirby said Israel’s airstrikes have “wiped out” Hezbollah’s command structure, but he warned the group will work quickly to rebuild it.
“I think people are safer without him around,” Kirby said of Nasrallah during an appearance on CNN today.
“But they will try to recover. We look at what they are doing to fill this leadership vacuum. It’s going to be tough. Much of their chain of command has now been wiped out.”
