A recent political cartoon published in The Washington Post has sparked internal controversy, as confirmed by Fox News Digital.
The cartoon, which satirized the terrorist organization Hamas, was met with significant backlash, leading to its removal from both the print and online editions of the newspaper.
Sally Buzbee, the executive editor of The Washington Post, addressed the issue in an email to the staff on Wednesday. She wrote, "Given the many deep concerns and conversations today in our newsroom, I wanted to ensure everyone saw the notes sent out tonight by The Washington Post's opinions editor, David Shipley, to Post readers and to his staff in opinions."
The contentious cartoon, titled "Human shields," portrayed a Hamas spokesperson declaring, "How dare Israel attack civilians," while a visibly terrified woman and four children were tied to his body. The cartoon was featured in the November 8 edition of the newspaper and was later removed following widespread criticism.
In response to the backlash, Shipley issued an editor's note expressing regret over the cartoon's publication. He wrote, "A cartoon published by Michael Ramirez on the war in Gaza, a cartoon whose publication I approved, was seen by many readers as racist. This was not my intent. I saw the drawing as a caricature of a specific individual, the Hamas spokesperson, who celebrated the attacks on unarmed civilians in Israel."
Shipley acknowledged that the public's reaction to the cartoon made him realize that he had overlooked something significant and divisive. He expressed regret over this oversight and emphasized the importance of understanding and unity, even in challenging times. He also announced the removal of the cartoon and the publication of various responses to it.
The Washington Post has yet to respond to Fox News' request for comment regarding the controversy.
Several readers of The Washington Post expressed their disapproval of the cartoon in letters to the editor. One reader described the cartoon as "deeply malicious and offensive," accusing it of perpetuating racial stereotypes and gender bias. Another reader questioned why the newspaper did not scrutinize the visual language of its cartoons as rigorously as its written content. A third reader criticized the cartoon for blaming the deaths of Palestinian civilians on Hamas rather than those directly responsible.
However, not all responses were negative. One reader praised the cartoon, stating, "Finally, an editorial cartoon that captured the essence of the Hamas terrorism. Please keep it up."
This is not the first time The Washington Post has faced criticism for its coverage of the Israel-Hamas conflict. The newspaper has previously been accused of downplaying rhetoric from pro-Hamas supporters who faced backlash for their views. It has also defended its use of data from the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry in its reporting on the conflict, despite controversy following a deadly hospital explosion.
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