Palestinian Photojournalist Anas Fteiha Sues Axel Springer Over Hamas Propaganda Claim

September 14, 2025 – Palestine/Germany –

Palestinian photojournalist Anas Zayed Fteiha, based in the Gaza Strip, has filed a legal claim against German publishing giant Axel Springer, accusing the company of violating his constitutional rights by falsely portraying him as a Hamas propagandist. The case, reported by The Intercept, centers on Springer’s flagship tabloid Bild, which allegedly mischaracterized Fteiha’s reporting as partisan propaganda in support of Hamas.

Fteiha’s lawsuit seeks an injunction to prevent Axel Springer from continuing to circulate what he describes as defamatory claims. According to the filing, Springer’s portrayal has damaged his professional reputation, jeopardized his safety, and undermined his credibility as a journalist working in one of the world’s most dangerous reporting environments.

The accusations come at a moment when Axel Springer is already facing criticism over its media practices in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories. Recent investigations allege that Springer’s news aggregator Upday suppressed reports of civilian deaths in Gaza, and that its Israeli classifieds platform Yad2 has hosted real estate ads for properties in illegal West Bank settlements. Critics argue that these actions reveal both a bias in editorial coverage and complicity in violations of international law.

Axel Springer has pointed to its internal code of conduct, which it claims prohibits discrimination and sets standards for accuracy and transparency. Yet, the company has not addressed Fteiha’s allegations directly. Press freedom advocates argue that the stakes of this lawsuit extend far beyond the case of one journalist, raising broader questions about how powerful media companies handle reporting from conflict zones and the risks faced by those who document war.

As the legal process unfolds, Axel Springer faces mounting scrutiny, with observers calling for transparency and greater safeguards against editorial or corporate practices that endanger journalists and distort public understanding of the Gaza conflict.  The outcome of the lawsuit could have significant implications for press freedom, media accountability, and corporate responsibility in conflict reporting.

References –

A Newspaper Called His Gaza Photos “Hamas Propaganda.” He’s Fighting Back.