ANKARA: Western media’s portrayal of Israel’s military actions in Gaza has come under scrutiny, with experts highlighting a perceived bias that dehumanizes innocent Palestinians and fails to acknowledge their sufferings during Israeli military’s brutalities. The ongoing conflict has resulted in a significant disparity in media reporting, experts claim.
Despite the fact that more than 8,000 Palestinians have been martyred in Gaza, Western correspondents, due to restricted access, have primarily reported on Israeli grief and suffering. Taghreed El-Khodary, an analyst from Gaza, emphasized that without firsthand experience of Palestinian lives, Western media fails to capture the complete narrative, leading to a slanted perspective favoring the Israeli narrative.
Critics argue that Western media often lacks contextual depth, omitting the historical background of Palestinians, who are predominantly descendants of those displaced during the creation of Israel in 1948.
Gaza, housing 2.3 million Palestinians in a confined space, is often referred to as the world’s largest “open-air prison.” Despite this, media coverage seldom portrays Palestinians as victims, employing language that devalues their suffering.
Experts Criticize Western Media
Experts have also criticized the Western media’s handling of falls claims made by Israel during the ongoing conflict. Allegations like Hamas “beheading 40 babies” were disseminated by several prominent Western outlets without verified evidence, fueling a narrative justifying Israel’s actions. The reports were later found baseless and unfounded. Some journalists fear repercussions if they speak out against their network’s pro-Israel bias, leading to self-censorship.
The perceived bias in Western media coverage is causing concerns about the erosion of journalistic integrity and credibility.
