Gretchen Ho, matapang na sinagot ang isyu sa pakikipag-ugnayan sa Israel sa gitna ng gulo
- Gretchen Ho addressed concerns surrounding her past interactions with the Israeli Embassy
- She confirmed traveling to Israel in 2022 through an invitation from its Ministry of Tourism
- Gretchen said her later interview with Ambassador Ilan Fluss included questions about Gaza and Palestinian rights
- She acknowledged concerns about journalistic independence and said she would apply greater caution moving forward
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Gretchen Ho has publicly addressed renewed scrutiny over her past interactions with the Israeli Embassy, explaining the circumstances behind her 2022 trip to Israel and later professional engagements involving the embassy.
Source: Facebook
The athlete-turned-broadcast journalist made the clarification in a Facebook post after human rights advocate Caloy Conde questioned the judgment of those who, according to him, had facilitated or enabled Israeli propaganda amid the situation in Palestine.
Conde specifically raised concerns about Gretchen’s previous engagement with the Israeli Embassy and asked whether material from such trips had ever critically examined Israel’s actions.
Gretchen confirmed that she traveled to Israel in July 2022 after being invited by Israel’s Ministry of Tourism. She said the trip happened more than a year before the war in Gaza that began in October 2023.
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At the time, Gretchen was developing her travel documentary program, Woman In Action, and was considering whether Israel and the Holy Land could become the subject of an episode.
She explained that although the itinerary and venues were arranged by their hosts, their group was not prevented from asking questions, speaking with people, or observing the places they visited.
“We were not asked to produce any particular narrative or portray Israel in any prescribed way. I went there with an open mind, yet also very much aware that since this was a trip sponsored by their government, what we were NOT shown was as important as what we were shown,” she maintained.
Gretchen said the experience gave her a deeper understanding of the complicated history and realities surrounding Israel and Palestine. Ultimately, she decided not to pursue an episode for Woman In Action at that time because she felt the subject required a more sensitive treatment.
She also provided additional context about her professional dealings with the Israeli Embassy. In May 2023, before the current war, she accepted an engagement to host an Israeli Embassy event, noting that she had taken on similar work involving other embassies.
Her interactions with Israeli officials continued after the war began. When she interviewed then-Ambassador Ilan Fluss for Morning Matters in 2025, Gretchen said she used the opportunity to raise difficult issues concerning the conflict.
“I took the opportunity to confront him on several issues – the human rights violations in Gaza, the right of Palestinians to exist, and why Israel was not a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty while Iran was,” she said.
Gretchen maintained that her dealings with the embassy did not dictate her editorial decisions or stop her from questioning Israeli officials.
“My interactions with the Embassy never determined my editorial positions, nor did they prevent me from questioning an Israeli official critically,” she claimed.
Despite defending the context surrounding her past engagements, Gretchen acknowledged why the issue has resurfaced and attracted criticism.
“Looking back, I recognize more clearly the importance of maintaining not only editorial independence, but sufficient distance to avoid reasonable perceptions of conflict. There are choices I would approach with greater circumspection today,” she maintained.
She also stressed that her position does not support violence or the dehumanization of either side.
“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.
Gretchen ended her statement by saying that journalists must remain willing to examine their own boundaries and decisions, particularly when dealing with institutions and perspectives they may later need to scrutinize.
“I am listening to the legitimate concerns being raised, and I will carry what I learn from this into the standards I set for my work moving forward,” she ended.
Gretchen Ho is a prominent Filipino television host, broadcast journalist, and former collegiate volleyball player who gained national recognition as a member of the Ateneo Lady Eagles "Fab Five." Transitioning successfully into media and advocacy, she is widely celebrated for her active lifestyle journalism, cycling advocacies—notably the "Donate A Bike, Save A Life" initiative—and award-winning news reporting.
In another report, Gretchen Ho recounted a frightening moment during her safari trip in South Africa when a spotted hyena came close to their group. Their guide explained that the animal had likely been attracted by the food stored inside their cooler. The hyena remained nearby for some time, observing the group before eventually leaving the area.
Meanwhile, Gretchen Ho voiced her disappointment over Ateneo de Manila University’s response following the deaths of student-athletes Divine Adili and Rene Clert Baterbonia during a team-building activity in Aurora. She questioned how the institution handled the situation and stressed the need for greater compassion toward the families mourning their loved ones.
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