Posted by: tomtomaneh on: December 30, 2008
Most of international media coverage of the ongoing clash between Israeli and Palestinian has been of ridculous manner. International media focus mainly on Hamas rocket attack onto southern Israel. As if to justified Israeli’s brutal attack (or massacre would be more like it). The International media have been quiet about the fact that it was Israeli who broke the ceasefire on the November 4th, 2008 when 6 palestinian died.
In a news report on December 28th, 2008, BBC’s interviews with Israeli officials stressed the notion that Israel’s citizens were in danger. The BBC report emphasized the Palestinian rockets, how Hamas has acquired rockets with a longer range that can reach more Israelis, while showing footage of Israeli civilians scurrying towards their homes in anticipation of a missile launch. Israeli Foreign Minister Livni was shown dismissing the high death toll in Gaza, saying that the question was not to count numbers here and there, not of how many people had died, but that Hamas is a “terrorist organization” and a dangerous threat to Israel’s civilians. Sadly, however, it is a question of numbers, especially when so many of the 350 killed and over 1600 injured (so far) are women and children. As stated, this act violates international law.
In a news report on December 28th, 2008, CNN reported: “Israelis and Palestinians begin to bury their dead.” This is a blatant example of the Western media’s penchant for equating the Palestinian and Israeli predicaments. The truth of the matter is that Israel lost one civilian, with five others injured. Over 300 Palestinians were killed and nearly 1500 injured. Is this fair reporting? Palestinians are shown expressing their frustration, with images of burning tires, and Palestinians taking to the streets and protesting forcefully. Next to this, Israelis are shown burying their dead in a quiet manner that stands out in contrast to the emphatic Palestinian protests, thereby representing the Palestinians as a less civilized people. But the plight in Gaza is far more catastrophic in comparison to Israel, and definitely warrants such vigorous protests. Maybe Israeli mourning wouldn’t be as complacent had they lost over 300 of their own.
In a report aired on December 28th, 2008, Fox News showed an Israeli official reciting the familiar sound bites about “one million Israelis” being in danger of being struck by rockets, Israel having to “protect its people,” and the inability of Israeli children to sleep at night for fear of the Hamas missiles. No other opposing view was presented in that report. The anchor made a feeble attempt to criticize the Israeli incursion—namely, that Israel did not only target Hamas militants—and the official replied vaguely by saying that Israel is trying to “minimize the damage to civilians,” even when all the evidence points to the contrary.
Another fact that tend to be overlooked by International media is that Gaza is one of the world most dense populated region. Launching brutal missiles attacks onto such area is the same as wilful intent to kill civilians. Such action can be clearly classified as war crimes and violating International law such as Fourth Geneva Convention. But none of the western news media dared to raise such issues or aired interviews of international law expert regarding this matter.
This kind of bias on international media could hurt the peace rally on the middle east. Such action are a purposeful action to demonizing palestinian courage to defend themselves and to maintain peace, an action which coulod lead to further Israeli’s attack. So Raise Your Voice, Let Gaza be Heard!!
