Hebrew report reveals "Legalization Cell": Secret unit in the occupation army to justify targeting journalists in Gaza

A detailed report revealed the formation of an intelligence unit by the occupation army known as the "Legitimization Cell," which was established after October 7. This unit works on fabricating intelligence narratives aimed at justifying the targeting of Palestinian journalists in the besieged Gaza Strip, amid increasing global outrage towards these assaults.

The mission of the "Legitimization Cell" is to gather intelligence used to improve the occupation's image in international media, focusing on searching for alleged evidence regarding the use of schools and hospitals by Palestinian factions. The unit also seeks to document failed resistance rocket launches, reflecting its propagandistic nature.

One of the most dangerous tasks of this unit is identifying journalists in Gaza and portraying them as covert elements within Hamas, leading to their legal protection being stripped away and presenting their killings as legitimate acts. According to the report, the goal was to "find one journalist who could be accused of belonging to Hamas," justifying the killing of dozens of others.

The report quoted a source stating that the political level within the occupation entity was directly directing the unit's work, and the information collected by the unit was regularly handed over to the United States, reflecting the close coordination between the occupation and international powers.

The report provided several concrete examples of the "Legitimization Cell's" involvement in disinformation campaigns, such as the case of Anas Al-Sharif, where the cell was involved in the incitement campaign preceding his assassination, led by the spokesperson for the occupation army to the Arab media, Avichay Adraee.

The unit also attempted to attach military charges to journalist Ismail Al-Ghoul after his martyrdom, relying on old documents referring to military ranks he obtained as a child. These examples illustrate how the unit seeks to distort facts and justify assaults.

In the incident of the Baptist hospital explosion, the unit presented a phone call it claimed was between Hamas members, but it later turned out that the voice of one of the speakers belonged to a Palestinian human rights activist unrelated to any faction, highlighting the extent of the evidence fabrication.

The report confirms that the occupation army treats the media as if it were a "battlefield," ordering the declassification of sensitive information not for security purposes, but to use it in the information war under the banner of "this is good for legitimacy." This policy reflects the occupation's attempt to impose complete media blackout on what is happening in Gaza.

The report concludes that these systematic policies are part of the occupation's attempt to silence every voice documenting war crimes, placing all journalists working in Palestine in direct danger.

Targeting journalists in Gaza is not merely an assault on individuals, but an assault on press freedom and the community's right to know, necessitating a serious response from the international community.