Gil Hoffman, executive director of Israel-based media watchdog HonestReporting, has admitted that his group had no evidence to back up their claims that some journalists were accomplices in Hamas’s October 7 attack, AP reported.

The accusations led several news organisations to issue denials.

Hoffman maintained that his group’s claims were “legitimate questions to be asked” and that “some people with an agenda” made HonestReporting look like villains.

In response, Reuters released a statement, saying, “The baseless speculation in HonestReporting’s post, presented as raising ethical questions, has posed grave risks to journalists in the region, including those working for Reuters.”

“The Israeli government and others amplified HonestReporting’s baseless speculation,” it said. “HonestReporting must take responsibility for the spread of misinformation it has triggered.”