Middle East Eye
London, England became the birthplace of Middle East Eye in April 2014. A single director named Jamal Bessasso formally owns the organization through a company called M.E.E. Limited. David Hearst serves as editor-in-chief and previously worked as foreign lead writer for The Guardian. Critics claim the project began forming in London during 2013 before its official launch. Several journalists from Al Jazeera joined the initiative after its initial planning phase. Jonathan Powell acted as a consultant ahead of the launch and registered the website's domain names. Bessasso lists his nationality as Dutch at Companies House despite being Kuwait-born Palestinian living in London. He holds more than 75% of shares and voting rights within the parent company. Hearst has denied that Bessasso is the actual owner but refused to reveal the true identity.
The governments of Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Egypt, and Bahrain repeatedly accused Middle East Eye of covert backing by Qatar. In 2017, the publication explicitly denied receiving funds from Doha. Editor-in-chief David Hearst stated the demand was an attempt to extinguish any free voice questioning regional actions. During the Qatar diplomatic crisis on the 22nd of June 2017, four nations demanded closure of the outlet. They viewed the media group as sympathetic to the Muslim Brotherhood and aligned with Qatari interests. Hearst argued they cover the area without fear or favor while reporting critical stories about Qatari authorities. One report detailed how workers from the subcontinent are treated on building projects for the 2022 World Cup. The organization maintains it operates independently despite persistent allegations from multiple Gulf states.
April 2020 marked a significant breach when hackers targeted twenty websites including Middle East Eye. Cybersecurity experts at ESET linked the attack to an Israeli surveillance firm called Candiru. The website suffered damage through a watering hole attack that served malicious code to specific visitors. This method allowed attackers to compromise personal computers of anyone accessing the site. The incident demonstrated vulnerabilities in digital infrastructure protecting independent journalism across the region. No other details regarding the scope of data theft were provided in available records. The attack highlighted ongoing threats facing news organizations operating under scrutiny from powerful governments.
Early June 2017 saw an anonymous hacker group distribute emails hacked from Yousef Otaiba's inbox. Otaiba served as Emirati ambassador in Washington D.C. during this period. Leaked correspondence included details from Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman and American officials. On the 14th of August 2017, media outlets began printing material derived from these stolen documents. The New York Times reported the emails appeared to benefit Qatar and seemed crafted by hackers working for that nation. Another major story emerged on the 29th of July 2016 alleging UAE government funnelled money to conspirators of Turkish coup attempt. Palestinian politician Mohammed Dahlan sued MEE in London court seeking damages up to £250,000. He dropped his libel claim against Hearst in 2018 effectively ending the legal case. By dropping the suit, Dahlan faced paying all legal costs estimated at over £500,000.
UAE Telecommunications Regulatory Authority blocked Middle East Eye nationwide on the 29th of June 2016. This action followed reports about the country's role in Yemen war and human rights issues. MEE contacted the UAE embassy in London for explanation but received no response. Egypt also blocked access following protests against President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi in September and October 2019. Jordan's Media Commission barred entry to the site in May 2025 after publishing an investigation. That report alleged Jordanian armed forces charged NGOs very high fees sending humanitarian aid to Gaza. Human rights monitors condemned these bans as threats to independent journalism across the region. The organization continues operating despite repeated attempts by multiple governments to silence its voice.
October 2022 brought scrutiny when Shatha Hammad made antisemitic remarks on social media in 2014. Hammad was a Palestinian Arab journalist associated with Middle East Eye at that time. Her posts included praise for Adolf Hitler according to revealed records. Following these disclosures, the organization terminated its association with her immediately. No further details regarding internal investigations or policy changes were provided in available documentation. The incident highlighted challenges faced by newsrooms managing staff conduct alongside editorial independence. Critics argued the decision reflected necessary accountability while supporters questioned whether it set precedents for future hiring practices.
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Common questions
When and where was Middle East Eye founded?
London, England became the birthplace of Middle East Eye in April 2014. A single director named Jamal Bessasso formally owns the organization through a company called M.E.E. Limited.
Who owns Middle East Eye and what is their nationality?
Jamal Bessasso holds more than 75% of shares and voting rights within the parent company despite listing his nationality as Dutch at Companies House. He is Kuwait-born Palestinian living in London while David Hearst serves as editor-in-chief.
Why did Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states block Middle East Eye?
The governments of Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Egypt, and Bahrain repeatedly accused Middle East Eye of covert backing by Qatar during the diplomatic crisis on the 22nd of June 2017. They viewed the media group as sympathetic to the Muslim Brotherhood and aligned with Qatari interests.
What happened to Middle East Eye websites in April 2020?
Hackers targeted twenty websites including Middle East Eye when cybersecurity experts at ESET linked the attack to an Israeli surveillance firm called Candiru. The website suffered damage through a watering hole attack that served malicious code to specific visitors.
When was Middle East Eye blocked in the UAE and why?
UAE Telecommunications Regulatory Authority blocked Middle East Eye nationwide on the 29th of June 2016 following reports about the country's role in Yemen war and human rights issues. Jordan's Media Commission barred entry to the site in May 2025 after publishing an investigation alleging Jordanian armed forces charged NGOs very high fees sending humanitarian aid to Gaza.