BREAKING: Gretchen Ho says she never pushed Israel’s narrative

Broadcaster addresses Israel-sponsored trip, Embassy event and criticism over possible conflicts of interest.

Broadcaster Gretchen Ho has addressed criticism over her past interactions with the Israeli Embassy and a government-sponsored trip to Israel, stressing that the engagements never dictated her editorial positions or compelled her to promote a particular narrative.

Ho said she traveled to Israel in July 2022 upon the invitation of Israel’s Ministry of Tourism, more than a year before the current war in Gaza began in October 2023. At the time, she was developing ideas for her travel documentary program “Woman In Action” and considered producing a feature on the Holy Land.

Ho said that while the itinerary and venues were arranged by their hosts, there were no restrictions on whom they could speak to, what questions they could ask, or what they could say about the experience.

“We were not asked to produce any particular narrative or portray Israel in any prescribed way,” she said.

She added that she was aware the trip was sponsored by the Israeli government and understood that “what we were NOT shown was as important as what we were shown.”

Ho eventually decided not to pursue the episode, saying she came away with a deeper appreciation of the complexities surrounding Israel and Palestine and felt that any story on the subject required a more sensitive treatment.

She also confirmed that in May 2023, before the current war, she accepted a professional engagement to host an Israeli Embassy event, similar to engagements she had done with other embassies. She also had cordial interactions with then-Israeli Ambassador Ilan Fluss.

The issue resurfaced after human rights advocate Caloy Conde questioned the judgment of journalists and personalities who had participated in Israel-sponsored trips, arguing that such engagements could contribute to the country’s propaganda efforts in the context of its actions in Palestine.

Ho pointed to her 2025 interview with Fluss on “Morning Matters,” where she said she confronted him on issues including alleged human rights violations in Gaza, the rights of Palestinians, and Israel’s position outside the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

“My interactions with the Embassy never determined my editorial positions, nor did they prevent me from questioning an Israeli official critically,” Ho said.

Still, she acknowledged the concerns being raised and said she now recognizes the importance of maintaining not only editorial independence, but enough distance to avoid perceptions of conflict.

“Looking back, I recognize more clearly the importance of maintaining not only editorial independence, but sufficient distance to avoid reasonable perceptions of conflict,” she said.

Ho also made clear her position on the conflict.

“I do not support genocide or the dehumanization of any people. I believe in the dignity and right to life of Palestinians and Israelis alike,” she said.

She ended her statement by saying she was listening to the criticism and would carry the lessons from the issue into the standards she sets for her work moving forward.

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