Antoinette Lattouf was removed from the air by ABC after sharing a Gaza war crimes post on social media

An Australian court has ruled that journalist Antoinette Lattouf was unlawfully sacked by the ABC after she shared a social media post accusing Israel of war crimes during its campaign in Gaza. The Federal Court awarded Lattouf A$70,000 in damages, finding the broadcaster acted in response to her political opinion, not any clear breach of policy.

Justice Darryl Rangiah concluded that Lattouf’s termination in December 2023—just hours after she re-shared a Human Rights Watch (HRW) post claiming Israel was using starvation as a weapon—was driven by internal panic and external pressure from pro-Israel lobbyists. Although the ABC claimed her post violated its editorial standards, Rangiah ruled she was never given a proper warning or a chance to defend herself.

“There was no formal instruction against such posts, only general advice to avoid controversy,” he noted. The ABC’s management acted hastily, removing her from the air after just three days of presenting, without identifying which policies had been breached.

Justice Rangiah criticised former ABC content chief Chris Oliver-Taylor for making the sacking decision with only vague suspicions of misconduct. He further found that former managing director David Anderson’s personal views influenced the decision. Emails from ABC leadership showed they were alarmed by lobbying efforts to remove Lattouf as soon as she was appointed.

Lattouf, an award-winning journalist of Lebanese descent and long-time advocate for racial equality and mental health, stood outside the court flanked by supporters. “I was punished for expressing a political opinion,” she said. “The court has found that sharing facts about war crimes is not grounds for dismissal—it’s illegal to fire someone for it.”

The case has reignited debate about editorial independence at the ABC and how the organisation treats staff from culturally diverse backgrounds. The abruptness of Lattouf’s removal, and the subsequent leaking of the decision to the media, severely damaged her reputation, she argued during proceedings.

The ABC initially maintained it had not fired Lattouf, since her contract was paid in full. It claimed she had simply been removed to protect the broadcaster’s reputation. But the judge disagreed, stating that her dismissal was an unlawful response to anticipated complaints rather than actual policy violations.

In response to the ruling, ABC’s new managing director Hugh Marks issued a public apology: “This matter was not handled in line with our values or expectations. It has raised legitimate concerns about our independence and integrity.” He noted that the ABC had since overhauled its social media policy.

The HRW post shared by Lattouf had accused Israel of committing war crimes by using starvation tactics in Gaza. Israel vehemently denies the allegation, which is also the subject of an International Criminal Court investigation. The court recently found “reasonable grounds” to believe Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defence minister Yoav Gallant bear criminal responsibility. Netanyahu has dismissed the charges as “false and absurd”.

The war in Gaza, triggered by the 7 October Hamas-led attack on Israel, has become one of the world’s most polarised and heavily scrutinised conflicts. According to Gaza’s health ministry, more than 55,000 people have died, including over 15,000 children.

Lattouf’s legal team previously secured a win at Australia’s Fair Work Commission before the matter escalated to the Federal Court. The ruling affirms the principle that employers cannot silence lawful political expression, even on controversial international issues.