UPDATE - Terminated 'unlawfully' over Gaza: Journalist weighs legal options against Australian broadcaster

UPDATES WITH STATEMENT OF JOURNALIST, CHANGES HEADLINE, DECK

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ISTANBUL (AA) - A journalist sacked by Australian broadcaster ABC allegedly for criticizing Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip said on Wednesday she was "unlawfully" terminated and is weighing legal options against the move.

"This is not a win for journalism or critical, fair thinking," said journalist and author Antoinette Lattouf, who was terminated by ABC over reported comments about Israel on social media.

Expressing disappointment over ABC's decision, Lattouf said in a brief statement: "I'm currently considering my legal options."

Lattouf, a presenter at ABC Radio in Sydney, was axed by the broadcaster after her social media post about the Israel-Palestine conflict.

However, ABC said that Lattouf was "employed on a short-term contract" and will not be back on air for her remaining two shifts this week.

Lattouf had reportedly criticized the Israeli government and military for killing thousands of civilians, including children and women in Gaza.

She was also among over 100 journalists who signed an open letter calling for greater security in the reporting of the conflict between Israel and Palestine.

“If someone doesn’t want to work with me because I defend press freedom, responsible and fair journalism that doesn’t bow to political intimidation and lobby groups. Oh, and coz I also don’t want more kids to get bombed,” she wrote on Instagram after signing the letter.

Reacting to ABC's decision, Australian Senator David Shoebridge said Lattouf was sacked for "telling the truth."

“(Antoinette Lattouf) has just been sacked by the ABC for telling the truth. Today it’s about the war on Palestine. But telling the truth about any of our wars is pretty dangerous. This is becoming a new Australian tradition," he said on X.

In her comments on the war in Gaza on the Women's Agenda news website, Lattouf said: “It is the worst humanitarian crisis and violence against children in modern times.”

"And yet sections of our media would rather invest time and energy in targeting female journalists and commentators who dare to deviate from reciting IDF (Israeli Defense Force) talking points, rather than interrogating those responsible for fractures in social cohesion locally and the ongoing slaughter of children in Gaza," she added.

Israel has bombarded the Gaza Strip from the air and land, imposed a siege, and mounted a ground offensive in retaliation for a cross-border attack by Hamas on Oct. 7.

At least 19,667 Palestinians have since been killed and 52,586 injured in the Israeli onslaught, according to Gaza’s health authorities.

The Israeli death toll in the Hamas attack on Oct. 7 stands at 1,200, while over 130 hostages are still held by the Palestinian group in Gaza, according to official figures.

*Islamuddin Sajid contributed to this story