News Emmys stand by nomination of Palestinian journalist's documentary

Organizers of the News and Documentary Emmy Awards are standing behind their decision to nominate a documentary byPalestinian journalist Bisan Owda, aftera pro-Israel lobby group called for its removal.

The Creative Community for Peace (CCFP), an entertainment industry group that opposes cultural boycotts of Israel, published an open letter Mondayasking the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS) to rescind the nomination of It's Bisan from Gaza and I'm Still Alive.

The film,an eight-minute news report produced byAl Jazeera's digital publisher AJ+,documents life in Gaza while Owda was living in a tent outside the Al-ShifaHospital in Gaza City around the beginning of the Israel-Hamas war in late October. Among the interviewees was an 11-year-old boy, who said Israeli forces had bombed his house, killing his parents.

It won a Peabody award in May and an Edward R. Murrow award this month.

The industry group's main complaint is an unproven allegation that Owda has ties to the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP),a Marxist-Leninistpolitical group that Canada, the U.S.and several other countrieshave categorized as aterroristentity.

More than 150 people in the entertainment industry including actors Selma Blair and Debra Messing,and Fox Entertainment Global CEO Fernando Szew signed the letter, which calls Owda's nomination "deeply troubling, given the creator's history of promoting dangerous falsehoods, spreading antisemitismand condoning violence."

It states thatOwda's alleged involvement with PFLP"raises serious ethical concerns that cannot and should not be ignored" and claims the nominationviolates theNATAS code of ethical conduct, which states it has"zero tolerance for discrimination, harassment, illegal, dishonest, unethicalor otherwise harmful conduct."

Emmysboss says no grounds to overturn nomination

The PFLP allegations stem from posts on X (formerly Twitter) made by a communications analyst that purport to show Owda, 25, speaking at PFLP-related events as a teenager between 2014and 2018.

NATAS president and CEO Adam Sharp said in a statement published by Deadline thatNATAS "has been unable to corroborate these reports, nor has it been able, to date, to surface any evidence of more contemporary or active involvement by Owda with the PFLP organization."

Sharp wrote that entries are sometimescontroversial and can give a platform to voices certain viewers "may find objectionable or even abhorrent," but are all inservice of "the journalistic mission to capture every facet of the story." Hesaid submissions are judged by experienced journalists from multiple organizations who serve in a independent volunteer capacity.

WATCH | Israel strikes Gaza school as U.S. tries to secure ceasefire deal:

Israel strikes Gaza school as U.S. tries to secure ceasefire deal

11 days ago

Duration 2:02

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has intensified efforts to secure a peace deal between Israel and Hamas, as an Israeli strike on a Gaza school killed at least 12 Palestinians, according to the Civil Defence authority.

"Most critically, the content ... was consistent with competition rules and NATAS policies," the statement says. "Accordingly, NATAS has found no grounds, to date, upon which to overturn the editorial judgment of the independent journalists who reviewed the material."

Owda has denied any affiliation with the PFLP, according to Al Jazeera. The media outlet also issued a statement saying it stands with Owda, callingthe allegations "baseless" and "an attempt to silence Bisan and present a real threat to her safety on the ground."

The CCFP and NATAS did not respond to requests for comment Wednesday afternoon. CBC was also unable to reach Owda.

At least 115 journalists killed in Israel-Hamas war, new report says

The controversy comes as the number of journalists killedin Gaza continues to climb.

The war began Oct. 7, when a Hamas-led attack on Israel killed more than 1,200, according to Israeli tallies. Israel's military has since killed at least 41,000 in Gaza, according to Gaza health officials..

And at least 115 journalists and media workers have been killed since then,according to a report released Wednesday by the Committee to Protect Journalists marking the deadliest period for journalists since the organization began gathering data in 1992.

The committee is investigating almost 350 additional cases of "potential killings, arrests and injuries," as well as assaults, threats, cyberattacks, censorship and killings of family members.

The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) has repeatedly said it does not deliberately target journalists in Gaza, but has also told media it cannot guaranteetheirsafety.It has also said some of those killed were Hamas militants using the job title as cover.

UNexperts said in February the Israel-Hamas war is thedeadliest, most dangerous conflict for journalists in recent history, and accused the IDFof "blatantly disregarding international law" by killing, attacking, injuring and detaining journalists.

WATCH | Al-Shifa hospital in ruins following Israeli raid:

Gaza hospital in ruins after weeks-long Israeli raid

5 months ago

Duration 3:12

Israeli troops withdrew from Gazas Al-Shifa Hospital over the weekend, but left the critical facility in ruins. Israel is also being accused of escalating tensions with Iran after killing military officials with an airstrike in Syria.

While some Hollywood stars have spoken up in support of Israel, most have remained silent on the issue.

Director Jonathan Glazer sparked controversy by criticizing Israel in his March Oscars acceptance speech, which prompted some in the entertainment industry to either condemn or support Glazer, who is Jewish.

Muslim group calls demands 'hypocritical'

Edward Ahmed Mitchell,national deputy director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations,called the signatories ofMonday's open letterhypocritical.

Mitchell told CBCthe signatories would have had no problem with a filmmaker who hosted a fundraiser for the IDF or was photographed with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, for example. He saidPalestinians are subjected to extra scrutiny that is not applied to other groups of people.

"For the past 10 months, the Israeli government supporters have essentially been telling Palestinians inGaza to shut up and die, whiletelling Palestinians in America to shut up and watch," he said.

"That pattern is untenable.Palestinians have the right to tell their story, and the value of their artwork really should not be dependent on opinions about the person behind the art."