Usoa Zubiria has addressed recent claims about his departure from RTVE’s Jerusalem bureau, confirming that his exit was not prompted by professional pressure or organizational coercion. He described his decision as a personal choice and asserted that no external forces influenced his move away from the role he had held in the field.
The journalist stated in a public message that his leaving Jerusalem was purely a private matter and not the result of workplace pressures or professional concerns. He spoke openly about the situation on his personal social media account, emphasizing that the move was intended to focus on personal reasons rather than any professional impediment.
Rumors had circulated after El Debate reported, citing unnamed internal sources, that Zubiria left the Jerusalem assignment due to pressure from Yolanda Álvarez, RTVE’s current Asia-Pacific bureau chief and former Jerusalem correspondent. The article suggested the reporter had been asked to cover Israel’s conflict from a pro-Palestinian stance, a claim RTVE has not confirmed.
Yolanda Álvarez responded to the allegations via social networks, asking the publication to retract the report. She stated that she never contacted Zubiria or signaled any particular stance on the Gaza conflict, and she warned that failing to correct the story would amount to slander. Her denial adds a layer of clarity to the controversy and underscores the importance of accuracy in reporting on sensitive international events.
It should be noted that late last year Zubiria announced his departure from RTVE’s Jerusalem bureau in a message posted on his official Twitter account. The timing of his departure coincided with a period of intensified coverage by the network as the Israeli-Hamas conflict continued to unfold around Gaza.
The Israel-Hamas war has dominated RTVE’s coverage since it began, with the network providing regular updates across its news programs. The situation in Gaza has remained a focal point for many international outlets, including RTVE, which seeks to balance on-the-ground reporting with responsible editorial oversight during a volatile and rapidly evolving crisis.