Artificial intelligence platforms including ChatGPT, Google Gemini, Perplexity, and X’s Grok are elevating Al Jazeera as one of their most “reliable” sources on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The Qatar-controlled outlet, long accused of acting as a propaganda arm for Hamas and other extremists, is now shaping the news millions of Americans receive from AI chatbots.
ChatGPT admitted it has cited Al Jazeera more frequently on the conflict than outlets like the New York Times or Associated Press. Gemini defends its exclusion of pro-Israel sources by claiming they engage in “hasbara,” the Hebrew word for advocacy, while approving outlets such as Mondoweiss and +972 Magazine—both of which have justified Hamas terrorism and compared Israel to Nazi Germany.
Lawmakers and watchdogs are raising alarms. Sen. Tom Cotton warned, “Al Jazeera is not a news organization, it is a mouthpiece for terrorists like Hamas. American AI companies should not rely on terrorist-sympathizing networks for anything, much less news about the Middle East.”
Israel has provided evidence that multiple Al Jazeera “journalists” doubled as Hamas operatives, including one who helped coordinate missile launches during the Oct. 7 attacks. The U.S. Justice Department previously required AJ+, an Al Jazeera subsidiary, to register as a foreign agent of Qatar.
Despite this record, AI platforms continue to cite the network as a top-tier source while sidelining pro-Israel organizations. This imbalance helps explain why AI responses frequently echo claims of Israeli “genocide” and “famine” while minimizing Hamas’s role
