NEW YORK โ The Lawfare Project says a report published by the Israeli newspaper Haaretz incorrectly linked its Executive Director, Brooke Goldstein, to an alleged Israeli government-sponsored influencer tour of Gaza during the recent war, prompting the outlet to issue a correction after being notified of the error.
According to a statement released by the organization, Goldstein visited Gaza during the conflict as a civilian guest of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, or GHF, to observe humanitarian operations firsthand and document conditions on the ground. The Lawfare Project said the trip was not funded, sponsored, or facilitated by any government.
The organization said the visit took place amid intense international media scrutiny of the conflict in Gaza. It described the information environment during the war as highly polarized and said public narratives often diverged sharply depending on the source of reporting.
โDuring the war in Gaza, media coverage was highly polarized, and in many cases deeply misleading,โ the Lawfare Project said in its statement. The organization added that claims circulating in international discourse included allegations of famine and other accusations that it characterized as inaccurate or unsupported by conditions observed on the ground.
Goldsteinโs trip to Gaza occurred during active hostilities. According to the Lawfare Project, she was one of only two civilians granted permission to enter the territory during the conflict. The organization said the purpose of the visit was to observe humanitarian distribution operations and provide independent reporting based on firsthand observation.
The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, which facilitated the visit, has been involved in delivering humanitarian assistance during the conflict. The Lawfare Project said Goldstein attended as a guest of the organization and independently documented what she observed. The trip was publicly shared at the time through video documentation and statements released online.
The controversy arose in August 2025 when Haaretz published an article examining claims that the Israeli government had sponsored or coordinated influencer visits to Gaza during the war. The article included Goldstein among individuals who had allegedly participated in such a program.
According to the Lawfare Project, that claim was incorrect.
The organization said the Haaretz report suggested that Goldsteinโs visit had been arranged or funded by the Israeli government and implied a connection to a funding program linked to the Israeli Foreign Ministry. The Lawfare Project said no such affiliation existed.
After reviewing the article, the Lawfare Project said it formally notified Haaretz of the inaccuracies. The newspaper later issued a correction acknowledging that Goldsteinโs visit was not part of the alleged program described in the report.
Haaretz has not publicly disputed that a correction was made following the notification, according to the Lawfare Projectโs statement.
The organization said the episode highlights the challenges of reporting during wartime, when narratives can spread rapidly across international media ecosystems before being fully verified.
โThis episode illustrates how quickly inaccurate narratives can spread in a polarized media environment,โ the Lawfare Project said. โAccuracy, independence, and firsthand reporting remain essential.โ
The Lawfare Project, a legal advocacy organization based in New York, focuses on combating antisemitism and defending civil and human rights through legal action and public advocacy. The group said it does not accept direction, sponsorship, or funding from governments in connection with its advocacy or reporting work.
The organization also said that individuals who challenge widely circulated claims about the Gaza conflict have sometimes faced reputational attacks. According to its statement, critics attempted to question Goldsteinโs credibility rather than address the substance of what she reported during her visit.
Goldstein has frequently spoken publicly about media coverage of the Gaza war and has argued that independent observation is necessary to counter misinformation. In statements shared online after her visit, she described humanitarian aid distribution and infrastructure conditions she observed in Gaza.
The Lawfare Project said it will continue to challenge inaccurate reporting when it appears and will seek corrections when necessary.
โWhen false claims are made, we will correct the record,โ the organization said.
The dispute reflects broader tensions surrounding international coverage of the Gaza conflict. Media outlets, advocacy organizations, and governments have often presented sharply different interpretations of events during the war.
For organizations involved in legal advocacy and human rights work, the Lawfare Project said, ensuring the accuracy of public reporting remains a central priority.
