AP photographer Ali Mahmud has placed 1st in 'Team Picture Story of the Year' awarded by the Reynolds Journalism Institute. The photo depicts five armed Hamas members in a pickup truck,
one of whom is resting his feet on Louk's naked, mutilated corpse as she
was paraded around
AP freelance photographer Ali
Mahmud has been awarded this week with the oldest photojournalism award
by Reynolds Journalism Institute, placing first in the 'Team Picture
Story of the Year'
Friends of Shani Louk are distraught after the AP photographer who took a chilling photo of the 22-year-old's half-naked corpse after she was brutally murdered and paraded across Gaza by Hamas, won a prestigious award.
AP
photographer Ali Mahmud, who took pictures of Hamas terrorists as they
committed mass murder on Oct. 7, has been awarded the oldest
photojournalism gong by Reynolds Journalism Institute last week, placing
first in 'Team Picture Story of the Year.'
The
photo depicts five armed Hamas members in a pickup truck, one of whom
is resting his feet on Louk's limp, mutilated body. Further footage
shows the terrorists parading her body in Gaza amidst cheering crowds
with one spitting on her remains.
Shani Cohen, an Israeli
fire dancer, has been best friends with Shani Louk for over 15 years
ever since they met in high school. She also has close ties to Louk's
family, making her tragic death even more heart-wrenching for Cohen.
Cohen
said Louk's friends and family were shocked to find the disturbing
image of their friend circulating online, and to discover the
'photographer' who took it won an award, was devastating.
'I don't think it's ethical, I think it's completely ridiculous,' Cohen told Dailymail.com.
The photo depicts five armed Hamas members in a pickup truck, one of whom is resting his feet on Louk's limp, mutilated body
Cohen emphasized the pain the news of the award inflicted on Louk's family and friends.
'We
took it very personally. Some cried. We shared it immediately as we saw
it,' she said. 'To see something like this is beyond ridiculous and
beyond antisemitic.'
She called the photograph ‘sick’ and the decision to give it an award ‘completely unethical.’
She
believes a photo of this nature does not serve society's interests and
should not be made publicly available. Instead, it should be restricted
for intelligence purposes and subjected to censorship, she explained.
'A
picture like this should be only for army needs and should be locked in
some kind of private gallery,' she stated, echoing the sentiments of
Louk's loved ones.
'It's not supposed
to be something for society to even see,' she added. 'It's completely
sick. This whole situation is sick. Nobody is feeling okay.'
She
highlighted the lack of ethical considerations in awarding Mahmud,
questioning the legitimacy of his credentials as a photographer.
'I'm
not sure this photographer is even a legit photographer or someone
professional. All the friends and family don't think its ethical or
legit for this to be happening.'
Shani Cohen has been best friends
with Shani Louk for over 15 years ever since they met in high
school. She called the photograph ‘sick’ and the decision to give it an
award ‘completely unethical.' Pictured: Shani Louk (L) Shani Cohen (R)
Louk's friend, Yuli Tsinker
(pictured at Louk's memorial at the SuperNova festival), said she cannot
stop crying since the award was announced, nonetheless, she's glad 'the
world will see what they did.'
Further footage shows the terrorists parading her body in Gaza amidst cheering crowds with one spitting on her remains
Louk's
friend and photographer, Yuli Tsinker, said she cannot stop crying
since the award was announced, nonetheless, she's glad 'the world will
see what they did.'
'Ever since they posted this, I've been walking around nervous and can't stop crying,' she said to Dailymail.com.
But
as painful as the news was for Tskinker, she also believes there is
some importance in sharing the deeply disturbing image with the world.
'On
the one hand, it's a really difficult picture and to win the picture of
the year with the body of a young girl next to five men, murderers with
weapons, is audacity!'
'But on the
other hand, this is also an explanation, that the world will see what
they did to such a beautiful, young girl, all one big heart who only
helped everyone and claimed that there is no such thing as bad people.'
'The world will see what they did to her! to her body!' she said.
The decision to give
the award for the photograph, which neglects to mention Shani Louk's
name in the caption or description, has since been slammed. The
photographer has also been accused of having prior knowledge or
involvement in the massacre.
The post garnered hundreds of comments condemning the Reynolds Journalism Institute and AP since it was shared last week.
According
to POY, the category 'recognizes the collaborative effort of a
photography staff covering a single topic or news story. It is a
narrative picture story that consists of images taken as part of a team
effort to cover a single issue or news story.'
The Reynolds Journalism Institute did not immediately respond to Dailymail.com's request for comment.
'Shani Louk. That's
her name. Yes, the half naked dead woman dragged around Gaza like fresh
prey. The picture you decided must be praised and awarded. Shani Louk,'
one user commented.
Another wrote,
'She has a name. Shani Louk. Her family specifically requested that we
remember her laughing and living. Take this down and show some respect.
If you want to post our Shani, find a photo she consented to.'
Australian
Actor Nathaniel Buzolic said: 'This is truly disgusting, having
interviewed the family of this innocent young girl who was murdered by
Hamas on oct 7th. You should be ashamed of yourselves for even allowing
this image to be shared for any purpose other than exposing the vile
nature of Palestinian terrorists. If this is put on display for
achievements, humanity is nothing short of vile at this point.'
One
woman, claiming to be from the same community as Louk, wrote: 'I am
horrified. That is Shani Louk! She is from my neighborhood! NO ONE
should win an award for taking a picture of her horrific death… least of
all someone who was able to be that close to the massacre. This is the
most disgusting coverage I've ever seen.'
Louk, a 22-year-old
German-Israeli tattoo artist and influencer, had been dancing with
friends at the SuperNova festival before she was murdered by
terrorists.
She has become recognized
since Oct. 7 for her vibrant personality, peaceful demeanor and striking
beauty that was captured through footage of her dancing at the
festival, just moments before the attack.
Cohen remembered her friend as a vibrant soul who embraced art, culture, and peace.
'She was the one person who really believed in world peace,' Cohen reflected.
Cohen
emphasized Louk's compassionate nature and aspirations. Louk's tragic
death, a result of senseless violence at a party where she went to
dance, left a void in the lives of those who cherished her.
'It's
very ironic in a sad way to think what happened to her,' she said.
'Because anyone who knew Shani for even half an hour knew that she was
the one person who really believed in world peace … and to travel and to
see the whole world.'
She loved
culture so much. She was never racist for even one second in her life
and very racist, very demonic people cut all her dreams in one moment at
a party where she went to dance.'
'We are all very very missing her and thinking about her every minute,' she said. 'She's a big loss to the world.'
'She
was so special, I have never met such a pure person and I will do
everything to make sure that she is remembered just like that, beautiful
and pure,' Tskinker told Dailymail.com.
Louk, a 22-year-old
German-Israeli tattoo artist and influencer, was dancing with friends at
the SuperNova festival before she was murdered by terrorists. She has
become recognized since Oct. 7 for her vibrant and peaceful demeanor and
beauty that was captured through footage of her dancing at the
festival, just moments before the attack
Mahmud, who was present with Hamas terrorists during their violent attack on innocent individuals
- including teenagers, infants, the elderly, and entire families, where
they committed atrocities such as torture and rape - has been accused
of having had prior knowledge of the massacre to capture sensational
shots.
Multiple news outlets and
watchdog groups have alleged that Mahmud and two other AP freelance
journalists had prior knowledge - and even participated in the Oct. 7
attacks.
The parents of Louk and other
Oct. 7 victims sued AP and Reuters last month for their association
with photojournalists who accompanied the terrorists on their massacre.
They accused the outlets of disregarding direct links the photographers
had to terrorist organizations.
The
outlets staunchly denied these claims, and said 'AP had no advance
knowledge of the Oct. 7 attacks, nor have we seen any evidence –
including in the lawsuit – that the freelance journalists who
contributed to our coverage did. Allegations like this are reckless and
create even more potential danger for journalists in the region.'
German tattoo artist named Shani Louk, who was in her early 20s, was in Israel to attend a peace rave
Shani, 22, was German but grew up
in Israel, and was one of hundreds of unsuspecting partygoers at the
Nova festival where Hamas conducted a massacre of some 260 civilians
In
November, the Israeli government demanded answers from western media
outlets including CNN, Reuters, The Associated Press and The New York
Times following a media watchdog report that suggested freelance
photographers they each hired may have been embedded with Hamas on
October 7.
The issue -
highlighted by Honest Reporting - concerned four freelance photographers
from Gaza whose works have been published by the media outlets.
Among them was Hassan Eslaiah, a photographer who has since been seen in an image with Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar.
All
four outlets deny having any prior knowledge of the Hamas attack and
insist they have cut ties with the reporters. The New York Times claimed
Honest Reporting had its 'vague insinuations', defending the
photographer it had hired.
But Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other cabinet ministers demanded more information.
In this photo from October 7,
taken by Ali Mahmud, Hamas militants are shown transporting the body of
Shani Louk. Her body is not shown but is to the side of the men's feet
Hassan Eslaiah (right), a former freelance AP/CNN photographer, with Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar (left) in an undated photo
'The
National Public Diplomacy Directorate in the PMO views with utmost
gravity that photojournalists working with international media joined in
covering the brutal acts of murder perpetrated by Hamas terrorists on
October 7th in the communities adjacent to the Gaza Strip.'
'These journalists were accomplices in crimes against humanity; their actions were contrary to professional ethics.'
'Overnight
the GPO issued an urgent letter to the bureau chiefs of the media
organizations that employed these photographers and sought
clarifications on the matter. The National Public Diplomacy Directorate
demands that immediate action be taken,' a statement posted on Israel's
Prime Minister's X account read.
In
response to the criticism, a CNN spokesperson told DailyMail.com at the
time: 'We had no prior knowledge of the October 7th attacks.
'Hassan
Eslaiah, who was a freelance journalist working for us and many other
outlets, was not working for the network on October 7th. As of today, we
have severed all ties with him.'
In a previous statement, the network said it had not found 'reason to doubt the journalistic accuracy' of his work.
The New York Times issued a full-throated denial of the allegations.
It had hired photographer Yousef Masoud, whose photographs portray the violence in Gaza.
Eslaiah posted this video on October 7 showing the ransacking of an Israeli tank
'The accusation that
anyone at The New York Times had advance knowledge of the Hamas attacks
or accompanied Hamas terrorists during the attacks is untrue and
outrageous. It is reckless to make such allegations, putting our
journalists on the ground in Israel and Gaza at risk. The Times has
extensively covered the Oct. 7 attacks and the war with fairness,
impartiality, and an abiding understanding of the complexities of the
conflict.'
'Though Yousef was not
working for The Times on the day of the attack, he has since done
important work for us. There is no evidence for Honest Reporting's
insinuations. Our review of his work shows that he was doing what
photojournalists always do during major news events, documenting the
tragedy as it unfolded,' the newspaper said at the time.
The
Associated Press, in its statement, denied having any prior knowledge
of the attack and insisted the first photos it received were taken after
it began.
'The first pictures AP
received from any freelancer show they were taken more than an hour
after the attacks began. No AP staff were at the border at the time of
the attacks, nor did any AP staffer cross the border at any time. We are
no longer working with Hassan Eslaiah, who had been an occasional
freelancer for AP and other international news organizations in Gaza.'
'AP
uses images taken by freelancers around the world. When we accept
freelance photos, we take great steps to verify the authenticity of the
images and that they show what is purported.'
The image taken by Eslaiah was published by the Associated Press on the day that the Hamas attack began
Palestinians walk away from the
kibbutz of Kfar Azza, Israel, near the fence with the Gaza strip on
October 7 in a picture taken by Eslaiah
'The
role of the AP is to gather information on breaking news events around
the world, wherever they happen, even when those events are horrific and
cause mass casualties.'
Two photos published by Reuters on October 7 were taken close to the Gaza border as the Hamas invasion began.
Honest
Reporting notes that photographers Mohammed Fayq Abu Mostafa and Yasser
Qudih 'happened to be at the border just in time for Hamas'
infiltration.'
In response to the
reporters, a Reuters spokesperson said that the agency acquired pictures
on October 7 from photographers that it did not previously have a
relationship with.
'The photographs
published by Reuters were taken two hours after Hamas fired rockets
across southern Israel and more than 45 minutes after Israel said gunmen
had crossed the border. Reuters staff journalists were not on the
ground at the locations referred to in the HonestReporting article,' the
statement also reads.
'Did the
photojournalists who freelance for other media, like CNN and The New
York Times, notify these outlets? Judging from the pictures of lynching,
kidnapping and storming of an Israeli kibbutz, it seems like the border
has been breached not only physically, but also journalistically,' the
HonestReporting feature read.
In his video front of attack, Eslaiah appears to be wearing his own clothes and is not identifiable as a member of the media.
In 2021, it was widely reported that the Associated Press used the same office space as Hamas in Gaza.
One of the other photojournalists
named in the report is Yousef Masoud, who has been photographing Hamas
fighters in Gaza for years. This photograph, taken in December 2022,
shows militants posing with weapons
'Brianna
Noble: Urban Cowgirl,' a 2020 photograph that received the award of
excellence from the same organization, pictures a black cowgirl as she
'represents the new American West.' It is meant to portray
'independence, strength, and resilience – while standing up for her
values – social and racial justice and equity'
The Donald W. Reynolds Journalism Institute did not immediately respond to Dailymail.com's request for comment.
Other
recent photos that received awards by the Reynolds Journalism Institute
for 'Picture of the Year' showcase images of strength and resilience.
In
2023, an image of Lewiston coping with tragedy after a mass shooting
was given the award of excellence by the institute. It featured a loving
embrace by family members struggling through grief to move forward after the deadliest mass shooting of the year.
'Brianna
Noble: Urban Cowgirl,' a 2020 photograph that received the award of
excellence, pictures a black cowgirl as she 'represents the new American
West.' It is meant to portray 'independence, strength, and resilience –
while standing up for her values – social and racial justice and
equity.'
