How Western Media Conceal Israel’s Genocide and War Crimes in Gaza
Prominent historian and researcher Asal Rad has accused major Western mainstream media outlets of playing an active role in covering up what she describes as Israel’s horrific genocide and war crimes in Gaza. In an interview with Al Jazeera’s special programme ‘The Listening Post’, she said that, under the guise of so-called impartial journalism on Gaza, Western media have essentially helped “manufacture consent” for those responsible for the alleged crimes.
Rad also discussed the issue in detail in light of her recently published book, “Don’t Say Palestine: How the Media Manufactured Consent for Genocide.” She said, “If the core principle of journalism is to uncover the truth, then the role of Western media over the past few years is an extreme example of failure. This is not simply poor journalism, but rather it has operated as a state propaganda machine and become a direct accomplice to genocide.”
Word Choice and Racial Bias
During the interview, Ms. Rad explained how subtle changes in language can create discrimination against Palestinians. She said that while Israelis are described as being “killed” or as victims of “genocide”, dismissive terms are often used when referring to Palestinians. For example, when a Palestinian civilian or doctor is abducted by the Israeli military, they are generally described as “prisoners”. In contrast, Israeli soldiers are described as “hostages”. She argued that this difference in language contributes to the systematic dehumanisation of Palestinians.
An Attempt to Erase the Name Palestine
Ms. Rad strongly criticised the tendency of Western media to present Gaza and the West Bank as separate geographical areas. She said, “Gaza, East Jerusalem or the West Bank—all are part of an independent Palestinian state. But Western media hesitate to use the word ‘Palestine’ and try to erase the Palestinian identity itself.”
Impact of Social Media and Direct Reporting
However, Ms. Rad believes that Western mainstream media have not been able to make their propaganda completely successful because of modern technology and the courage of local journalists in Gaza. In the smartphone era, horrific images of the situation in Gaza have reached people around the world through live streams. As a result, she believes people in Western countries are now more critical of Israel than they were before.
Source: Al Jazeera
