It was reported on 24 January that a total of 24 IDF soldiers died in a single day of attacks against Gaza, but we really need to ask the question: why is it that the likes of the BBC and others do not share a similar focus on the numbers of Palestinian deaths in the same time period? [1]
Clearly, a stark contrast in reporting is persisting, highlighting blatant bias in mainstream media outlets; and clearly, there is a question of dehumanisation when it comes to the Palestinian people.
More deaths than any 21st century conflict
While the BBC and others have continued to focus on the loss of 24 IDF soldiers in the past few days, recent heart-wrenching figures from British charitable confederation Oxfam have prompted serious reflection among Muslims and anyone with a sense of morality on the daily devastation faced by Palestinians amidst this ongoing conflict.
On 11 January, Oxfam’s Middle East Director, Sally Abi Khalil, said,
“The scale and atrocities that Israel is visiting upon Gaza are truly shocking. For 100 days, the people of Gaza have endured a living Hell. Nowhere is safe and the entire population is at risk of famine.
“It is unimaginable that the international community is watching the deadliest rate of conflict of the 21st century unfold, while continuously blocking calls for a ceasefire.” [2]
The international NGO has raised concerns about Israel’s military actions, revealing that Palestinians are being killed at an average rate of 250 people per day. [2]
This alarming number far outweighs the daily death toll of any other major conflict in recent years.
Likewise, on 16 January the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) warned that,
“Every single person in Gaza is grappling with hunger, with a quarter of the population struggling to find food and drinkable water.
“The looming threat of famine is compounded by the lack of adequate nutrition and healthcare for pregnant women, putting their lives at risk.
“Furthermore, all children under five — 335,000 in total — are at high risk of severe malnutrition, and the risk of famine conditions continues to increase, posing a significant threat to an entire generation with potential long-term consequences.” [3]
Media coverage discrepancies
The media’s role in shaping public opinion and influencing policy discussions is one of the avenues being utilised by the Zionist state during its genocidal actions in Gaza.
In this light, the recent BBC article falls short of providing proportional coverage to the Palestinian plight and is merely aiding the Israeli government in pushing narratives that present it in a more positive light.
“The IDF website reports 217 soldiers killed since the start of Israel’s ground invasion on October 27, totalling 552 deaths since October 7.
“Contrastingly, Gaza’s Hamas-run Health Ministry reports 195 Palestinians killed in the past day alone.” [1]
Why focus on a health service being “Hamas-run”?
What raises concern is the obvious bias in language used to describe the casualties.
Among various media outlets, the death of IDF soldiers is being painted with empathy, by running headlines and focusing on the oppressor as opposed to the oppressed.
Simultaneously, the Palestinian death toll is swiftly discredited by labelling it as originating from a “Hamas-run” health service.
It could be implied that purely referring to the death toll source as an “IDF website” and not the “Likud-run Ministry of Health” (which it certainly is) is an attempt at giving more credibility and importance to Israeli losses.
As for the mention of Gaza’s health department being overseen by the political party in power at this current point in time? It is evident that media outlets forget Hamas is a political party with 74 of 132 seats in the Palestinian Legislative Council. So why do we not hear similar wording for Israel’s figures?
Analysis
ANALYSIS
We all have a duty to re-humanise the Palestinians in the face of such complete and widespread dehumanisation and othering in our media.
One mechanism of re-humanising people is including the phrase ‘somebody’s’ into the narrative. In all our interactions, we must emphasise the importance of showing that every single child that was killed — that's somebody's cousin, that's somebody's son, that's somebody's nephew, that's somebody's neighbour.
Every mother — that's somebody's mother, that's somebody's aunt, that's somebody's grandmother, that's somebody's.
Doing this places that person in a human frame. If we don't do that, then, of course, we're guilty of being unable to re-humanise the people who have suffered so many decades of dehumanisation whose fruits we are seeing today.
Questions that need answers and reflections
It is crucial to note that countless Palestinian death tolls since the 7 October escalation have been explicitly stated and repeated by some media organisations, thereby exposing the lies uttered by other media and governments. [4] [5]
Indeed, the US President Joe Biden brazenly said on 25 October that he had “…no confidence in the number that the Palestinians are using”. [5]
Biden further claimed,
“I have no notion that the Palestinians are telling the truth about how many people are killed.” [5]
But there are some thought-provoking questions that may prompt pro-Israelis to acknowledge the bias displayed in media outlets against Palestinians.
Consider asking those who push a pro-Zionist stance,
- Does the prominent focus on the deaths of 24 IDF soldiers distract from the harsh reality for Palestinians?
- Confronting quoted figures, does it not warrant re-evaluation of Palestinian living conditions?
- In media bias, how is the significant difference in living conditions for Palestinians vs. Israelis justified?
- Without impartial media coverage, can we truly confront the stark dissimilarities in both peoples’ living conditions?
Also read
- What made Hiroshima and Nagasaki possible?
- CAGE finds Palestinian solidarity in UK being shut down
- Starmer faces reckoning over despicable Gaza ceasefire stance
Also watch
Source: Islam21c
Notes
