Western media enabling Gaza genocide and rewriting history, say experts
Historian Avi Shlaim speaking at the International Centre of Justice for Palestinians event held on 28 June 2025
Middle East Eye reports on 29 June 2025:
As Israel’s war on Gaza intensifies and expands across the Middle East, media analysts and human rights advocates are raising concerns over the lack of international accountability and the role of western news outlets in shaping public perception of the conflict.
At a panel hosted by the International Centre of Justice for Palestinians (ICJP) in London on Saturday, experts accused mainstream Western media of contributing to the denial and distortion of atrocities unfolding in Gaza.
The Centre for Media Monitoring (CFMM) presented findings highlighting how often leading media organisations downplay or dismiss claims of genocide. Faisal Hanif, a media analyst at CFMM, said the BBC had shut down references to genocide in its Gaza coverage more than 100 times over the past year.
Omar al-Ghazzi, associate professor of media and communications at the London School of Economics, called the trend “a war on history”. He warned that the use of media narratives as future historical sources could shape how upcoming generations understand the events in Gaza.
The panel also pointed to specific language patterns in coverage. Hanif noted that the term “massacre” appeared 18 times more often when referring to Hamas attacks than to Israeli attacks on Palestinians. He said this imbalance reflected a wider rhetorical bias and an uncritical acceptance of Israeli government claims – particularly those targeting local journalists in Gaza.
British-Israeli journalist Rachel Shabi said Israel has consistently framed its ban on international reporters entering Gaza as a safety measure, while accusing Palestinian journalists of links to Hamas. She criticised international media outlets for accepting these narratives without challenge.