[NY Post] A New York Times writer has "resigned" after signing a letter falsely accusing Israel of genocide against the Palestinian people — and denouncing her own paper’s coverage of the country’s war against Hamas.Jazmine Hughes, a staff writer for New York Times Magazine, left the publication Friday, the paper told staffers in an email obtained by The Post.
"While I respect that she has strong convictions, this was a clear violation of The Times’s policy on public protest," said magazine editor Jake Silverstein. "This policy, which I fully support, is an important part of our commitment to independence."
"She and I discussed that her desire to stake out this kind of public position and join in public protests isn’t compatible with being a journalist at The Times, and we both came to the conclusion that she should resign," Silverstein continued.
Earlier this week Hughes signed a letter from "Writers Against the War on Gaza" which openly blamed Israel for the deaths of their own people in an Oct 7. terrorist attack by Hamas, which left roughly 1,400 dead.
"We stand with their anticolonial struggle for freedom and for self-determination, and with their right to resist occupation," the letter read, in an endorsement of Hamas barbarism.
The letter publicly blasted the New York Times Editorial Board for defending Israel’s right to "defend ... a society that values human life and the rule of law."
"We condemn those in our industries who continue to enable apartheid and genocide. We cannot write a free Palestine into existence, but together we must do all we possibly can to reject narratives that soothe Western complicity in ethnic cleansing," the letter read, spouting additional Pro-Hamas talking points.
It’s not the first time Hughes has publicly denounced her own colleagues — something Silverstein mentioned in his note to staff.
Earlier this year she signed another letter publicly criticizing the Grey Lady’s coverage of transgender issues, which sparked backlash within the paper.
A contributing writer to the magazine who also signed the letter, Jamie Lauren Keiles, revealed Friday on X that she would also be leaving the publication.
"I ultimately decided the institution was taking more from me than giving to me," Keiles said on X, insisting the departure had been a "personal decision."
The New York Times continues to employ Soliman Hijjy to cover the Israel-Hamas conflict, despite his history of social media posts praising Adolf Hitler.
"There’s no question management made the right call here. And in the past, that hasn’t always happened with these cases. But now, hopefully this is a clear message to the newsroom that if you want to advocate for a political cause or attack the work of your colleagues, there’s the door," one newsroom insider told The Post.
| Hot Air adds: |
i resigned from my contributor writing position at the times mag earlier this week because having a formal institutional affiliation was starting to become a liability to my work.
— Jamie Lauren Keiles (@jamiekeiles) November 3, 2023
nobody asked me to leave. was a personal decision about what kind of work i want to be able to do. all this said, i standby my choice to sign the @wawog_now letter and pray for a free palestine soon
— Jamie Lauren Keiles (@jamiekeiles) November 3, 2023