Jewish leaders urge ABC to stand down Tom Joyner over ‘bullsh--’ comments about babies being beheaded

The ABC is under pressure after correspondent Tom Joyner labelled reports of Israeli babies being beheaded by Hamas terrorists as ‘bullsh--’.

ABC Middle Eastern correspondent Tom Joyner. Source: X

The ABC is facing pressure from Jewish leaders to stand down Middle Eastern correspondent Tom Joyner from reporting on the war in Israel after he labelled reports about babies being beheaded by Hamas terrorists as “bullshit” in a WhatsApp group with international media.

The Zionist Federation of Australia’s president Jeremy Leibler has written to the ABC’s director of news Justin Stevens on Friday in a letter outlining that he was left “stunned and appalled” by Joyner’s remarks that “Jewish babies being beheaded and burnt to death in Israel are ‘bullshit’.”

It comes after The Australian revealed Joyner had been met with condemnation over his controversial remarks made to members of the international media.

Late on Friday the ABC said management had spoken to Joyner and in a response to Mr Leibler said he “expressed his remorse”

“Tom recognised the language of his comment was inappropriate and apologised to the group,” the ABC said.

On Friday, Israel confirmed that the reports of babies being burnt and decapitated in Hamas’s assault on the Kfar Aza kibbutz and photographs were also shown to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken during his visit to Israel on Thursday by the Public Diplomacy Directorate in the Prime Minister’s Office.

Jeremy Leibler has written to the ABC demanding action be taken.

In Mr Leibler’s letter, seen by The Australian, he described Joyner’s comments in the WhatsApp group with more than 600 journalists who are reporting on the atrocities in Israel were based on “unfounded scepticism and refusal to report on these crimes that forced the public release today of photographic evidence of charred and mutilated children.”

“He was immediately and rightly condemned by the other journalists to whom he made the comment,” Mr Leibler said in the letter.

“He must now promptly be denounced and disciplined by the ABC.”

He has asked that Joyner no longer report on the attacks in Israel by Hamas terrorists.

“I respectfully urge you immediately to stand down Mr Joyner as the ABC’s Middle East correspondent,” he said.

“His continued position is untenable.”

After Joyner posted his comment in the WhatsApp group on Tuesday – which has now been deleted – he was met with condemnation with other members of the international media.

“Why are you picking this hill to be humiliated on?” one person wrote.

Another journalist replied and said: “The PMO (Prime Minister’s Office) confirmed it, there are numerous eyewitness testimonies from the field and (US President Joe) Biden just confirmed seeing evidence to support it.

“What more would you like?

“Do you need to be taken to a morgue and open body bags yourself? Shame on you.”

Another journalist also said: “There have been multiple people here, myself included, saying they have spoken to eyewitnesses about decapitations.”

Joyner replied to his initial comments refuting the stories about the babies and wrote, “I’m sorry about the wording – I regret that. But we still have not seen clear evidence.

“Why hasn’t there been anything unequivocal from the IDF (Israel Defence Forces) or from Netanyahu.”

The Australia Israel and Jewish Affairs Council executive director Dr Colin Rubenstein said the ABC should investigate Joyner’s conduct.

“We were shocked by Tom Joyner’s insensitivity and unprofessional remarks, and it would be entirely appropriate for the ABC to investigate the matter,” he said.

3AW broadcaster Neil Mitchell said on this program on Friday that Joyner “needs to be taken out of that area (the Middle East) immediately by the ABC … they are dead babies.”

“That sort of language make it into a vile debating point,” Mitchell said.

“Pull him out now for his own sake.”

In 2021, Joyner posted on social media that he had a great time in Gaza that is run by Hamas terrorists.

“It’s been a really life-changing experience over the last few days,” he wrote.

“The people in Gaza are strong and generous … can’t wait to go back.”

My last day in Gaza today. It’s been a really life changing experience over the last few days. The people in Gaza are strong and generous. I have several stories to write in the coming weeks! Can’t wait to go back

— Tom Joyner (@tomrjoyner) May 5, 2021

He also said in 2021 on X, formerly Twitter, that he would stop using the word “clashes” after a pro-Palestinian group complained.

Good points made. I used "clashes" today in coverage. I will stop from now on https://t.co/wiGt3F9i8N

— Tom Joyner (@tomrjoyner) May 10, 2021

Joyner was contacted about the matter multiple times but did not respond.