TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — The war in the Gaza Strip is starting to look different these days on Israeli news.
For most of the past two years, television stations in Israel paid little attention to suffering in Gaza, focusing instead on stories of Israeli heroism, hostages’ families, and military fatalities.
However, recent months have seen some Israeli stations begin to share graphic images of malnutrition and reports that detail the daily hardships faced by Palestinians.
This transformation coincides with growing global outrage over the ongoing conflict and represents divisions within Israel regarding military strategy. Despite this new coverage, the policies have seen little change.
“It’s not just truly caring about the situation in Gaza, but also from an Israeli perspective, are we acting correctly in a way that serves the aims of this war?” queried Eran Amsalem, a communications professor from Hebrew University.
Despite calls from the public for an end to the war focused on returning hostages, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has remained largely unresponsive. The aftermath of the October 7, 2023, attacks by Hamas has seemingly overshadowed appeals for Palestinian concerns.
The shock of Oct. 7
The initial reports of the conflict showed Hamas militants attacking Israeli territories, while corresponding footage from Gaza depicted celebratory scenes of hostages being paraded.
Approximately 1,200 individuals, primarily civilians, were killed, and 251 taken hostage, resulting in continued media focus on what is often dubbed Israel’s own 9/11.
“Initially, the media reported little on Gaza’s struggles, focusing instead on Israel’s tactical successes against Hamas,” remarked Raviv Drucker, an Israeli news anchor. “When the suffering of Palestinians was highlighted, it was typically framed within the context of military effectiveness.”
Journalists from abroad have been largely restricted from Gaza since the conflict began, with local media footage facing scrutiny. The U.S.-based Committee to Protect Journalists has labeled it the deadliest conflict for reporters, with at least 189 Palestinian journalists reportedly killed due to Israeli fire.
“It's peculiar that while everyone in the 21st century has access to technology for broadcasting, credible journalists remain absent from the ground,” Drucker noted.
The perils of highlighting Gaza suffering
Yonit Levi, known for her moderate approach, has faced backlash for her remarks on international coverage of the humanitarian situation, suggesting it might represent a moral failure. However, her statements led to accusations of her being a “Hamas spokesperson” from pro-Netanyahu commentators.
Right-wing media outlets often celebrate military actions against Palestinians, exhibiting hostility towards any acknowledgment of civilian casualties.
The ongoing offensive has resulted in over 64,000 reported deaths of Palestinians, as per the Gaza Health Ministry, which remains a controversial, yet referenced source for independent analysts.
Israeli military officials have denied intentionally targeting journalists, amidst widespread denial of allegations against Palestinian reporting personnel.
Signs of change
Notably, recent weeks have featured increased coverage of Palestinian perspectives in Israeli media.
Some programs have highlighted the starvation crisis exacerbated by Israel’s humanitarian aid ban while interviews with Palestinians, modified for safety, have become more common, albeit limited in scope.
Despite such shifts, stories centering on domestic Israeli issues dominate the media landscape. Some outlets like Haaretz have continued to criticize military actions, but they stand as exceptions in the currently prevailing narrative.
As Nir Hasson of Haaretz expressed, “There's been an observable change since October 7, with acknowledging Palestinian suffering viewed as illegitimate.” Yet he believes that the general Israeli public may be ready to engage with broader discussions if presented openly.
