Palestinian Journalist Accuses Western Media of Enabling Israel's War Crimes in Gaza

Palestinian journalist Ahmed Alnaouq has leveled a scathing accusation against Western media outlets, claiming they are "enabling" Israel to commit war crimes and massacres against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip by refusing to accurately cover the situation on the ground. Alnaouq, who has personally lost 23 family members, including his father, brothers, sisters, and 14 nieces and nephews, in Israel's ongoing assault on Gaza, says the Western media is "part of the problem."

Why this matters: The accuracy and fairness of media coverage have a direct impact on public opinion and government policies, making it crucial to hold media outlets accountable for their reporting. By enabling Israel's war crimes, the Western media may be perpetuating a cycle of violence and human rights abuses, with far-reaching consequences for the people of Gaza and the Middle East.

"The Western media is enabling Israel to commit these war crimes and massacres of Palestinians because they refuse to cover what's actually happening on the ground," Alnaouq told Anadolu Agency. He asserts that Western media outlets have a responsibility to report the news as it happens, but they are failing to do so. Alnaouq also accuses them of being "partners" in Israel's crimes and of being "racist" in their apathy towards the killing of Palestinian journalists.

Since Israel launched its assault on Gaza last October, at least 142 media workers have been killed in Israeli attacks. Over 34,600 Palestinians in total have been killed, the vast majority being women and children. Nearly 77,900 have been wounded, and around 85% of the population has been displaced, leaving them facing famine and acute shortages of medical aid and other essentials.

Alnaouq's comments come as Israel faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for its actions in Gaza. He believes the international community has a responsibility to stop Israel's atrocities, but they are not doing their job. "If this mass killing of journalists happened in another country, if they were not Palestinians, we would have seen uproar from all the Western media," Alnaouq said. "Unfortunately, just because they're Palestinians, the world did not care much about it. This is a tragedy. The Western media is racist."

Despite the challenges and dangers, Alnaouq remains defiant, stating that Palestinians will continue to document Israel's atrocities through "citizen journalists" who take it upon themselves to record and share what's happening with the world. "When you kill a journalist in Palestine, another 100 people will want to become a journalist," he said.

Since Israel's military campaign began on October 7, 2023, at least 97 journalists and media workers have been killed between then and April 25, 2024. The victims include 92 Palestinian, two Israeli, and three Lebanese journalists. Additionally, 16 journalists were reported injured, four missing, and 25 arrested during this period. Press freedom organizations have raised concerns about an apparent pattern of the Israeli military targeting journalists and their families.

OnWorld Press Freedom Day, PEN International urged individuals to contact their government leaders to take immediate action to protect journalists and ensure unfettered reporting on the war in Gaza. The organization called for an immediate ceasefire, swift and transparent investigations into the killing of journalists, and an end to the longstanding pattern of impunity for Israeli forces in the killings of journalists. "Protecting press freedom and ensuring the safety of journalists is fundamental during times of war and essential in providing the public with accurate and timely information,"said PEN International President Burhan Sonmez.

Key Takeaways

• Palestinian journalist Ahmed Alnaouq accuses Western media of enabling Israel's war crimes in Gaza.
• At least 142 media workers, including 97 journalists, have been killed in Israeli attacks since October 2023.
• Israel faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its actions in Gaza.
• Press freedom organizations raise concerns about Israeli military targeting journalists and their families.
• PEN International urges governments to protect journalists and ensure unfettered reporting on the war in Gaza.