WEBVTT - Did the ABC hire a Hamas terrorist? 

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<v Speaker 1>Today's biggest news from The Australian, I'm Clare Harvey with

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<v Speaker 1>the front's afternoon headlines. Senior ABC brass have told a

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<v Speaker 1>Senate committee they're investigating whether or not a journalist they

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<v Speaker 1>used to help cover the Israel-Hamas conflict was in fact

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<v Speaker 1>a Hamas operative. The man, Roshdi Siraj, filed video for

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<v Speaker 1>outlets including Al Jazeera and the ABC's 7.30 program. Host

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<v Speaker 1>Sarah Ferguson read on air a tribute to Siraj after

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<v Speaker 1>he was killed in Gaza in 2023. The Israel Defence

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<v Speaker 1>Forces named Siraj as a Hamas terrorist, and the ABC's

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<v Speaker 1>editorial director Gavin Fang and managing director Hugh Marks told

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<v Speaker 1>the committee the organisation is investigating whether that's true or not.

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<v Speaker 1>Here's Hugh Marks.

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<v Speaker 2>We have responded, I think as Mr Fang earlier said,

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<v Speaker 2>by seeking to do our own inquiries of the IDF

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<v Speaker 2>as to whether that that person is a person of

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<v Speaker 2>concern from the IDF perspective or not. We have not

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<v Speaker 2>received a response to this date. So at this point,

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<v Speaker 2>that journalist, I think, based on the evidence, we currently

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<v Speaker 2>have remained someone that was tragically killed in Gaza. So

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<v Speaker 2>the fact that it's been listed in other sources as

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<v Speaker 2>being a Hamas operative, as you suggest, that is one perspective.

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<v Speaker 2>I think we are basing our work on the international

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<v Speaker 2>body's work and direct questions to the IDF, which is

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<v Speaker 2>I think the appropriate steps to take.

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<v Speaker 1>Gavin Fang told the committee the ABC had amended other

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<v Speaker 1>stories prepared by people who the organisation now believed were

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<v Speaker 1>not legitimate journalists. The federal government says it's not aware

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<v Speaker 1>of any plans to bring home another so-called ISIS bride

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<v Speaker 1>who's still in the Middle East. Hoden Abbey, a Western

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<v Speaker 1>Sydney woman who went to Syria as a teenager to

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<v Speaker 1>join the so-called caliphate, is in a detention centre with

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<v Speaker 1>her child, who was disabled when she was struck by shrapnel.

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<v Speaker 1>Department of Home Affairs Counter-Terrorism Coordinator Brendan Dowling on Tuesday

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<v Speaker 1>said he was unaware of any efforts to repatriate Abby

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<v Speaker 1>and her daughter. They're believed to be the last Australians

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<v Speaker 1>in the cohort of women and children who were in

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<v Speaker 1>the al-Raj camp in Syria. Dowling said the government was

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<v Speaker 1>absolutely not bringing the woman home. However, with previous cohorts

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<v Speaker 1>of ISIS brides, The government has said it's unable to

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<v Speaker 1>prevent their return. Several women were arrested upon their return

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<v Speaker 1>in previous groups. We'll have a detailed look at the

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<v Speaker 1>case of Hoden Abbey, who is accused of holding a

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<v Speaker 1>nine-year-old Yazidi girl as a slave while in Syria, in

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<v Speaker 1>the front tomorrow. You can find that episode right here,

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<v Speaker 1>first thing Wednesday morning. In the meantime, check out all

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<v Speaker 1>our journalism anytime at theaustralian.com.au.