On July 17, 2023, an extraordinary protest unfolded outside Channel 12, Israel’s leading news outlet, as a small group of peace activists brandished photos of Palestinian children who have perished in the ongoing Gaza conflict. Their banner, emblazoned with the question, “What Does the Media Conceal?” starkly highlighted a critical truth: despite the escalating violence, the suffering of Palestinian civilians remains largely overlooked by mainstream Israeli media. While thousands of Israelis have taken to the streets to demand an end to the war, concern for Palestinian lives is conspicuously absent from the national dialogue.
Inside Channel 12, the protest catalyzed an unprecedented internal debate among journalists and the station’s CEO, Avi Weiss. This exchange revealed a palpable tension between the duty to report the full truth and the desire to shield Israeli viewers from the harsh realities of war. Some reporters bravely spoke out in support of the demonstrators, asserting that the media has a responsibility to depict the unvarnished truth, regardless of its discomfort. Others countered, suggesting that images of Palestinian suffering should be minimized during a time of national crisis. This exchange culminated in Weiss abruptly ending the discussion, admonishing his staff to avoid alienating viewers—a troubling indication of the constraints imposed on journalistic integrity in times of conflict.
The Hamas-led assault on October 7, 2023, which left approximately 1,200 Israelis dead and saw the kidnapping of 251 individuals, marked a drastic shift in the Israeli media landscape. This attack not only exposed significant failures in Israel’s military and intelligence operations but also laid bare the deep-seated biases that permeate the nation’s media narratives. While the world bears witness to the horrific humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza, the Israeli populace remains largely insulated from these truths. The coverage—or lack thereof—reflects a media environment that prioritizes nationalistic narratives over a comprehensive portrayal of the human cost of war.
Israeli television channels consistently downplay the ramifications of military action on Palestinian civilians. Viewers in Europe, North America, and beyond are often more informed about the realities in Gaza than those residing just a stone’s throw away. When images from Gaza do find their way onto Israeli screens, they are frequently accompanied by dismissive commentary that minimizes the humanitarian implications, framing reports of starvation and atrocities as either Hamas propaganda or as manifestations of anti-Semitism. This denial of the Palestinian plight is not merely a failure of journalism but a manifestation of a broader societal disengagement from the realities of occupation and violence.
Ehud Yaari, a seasoned analyst at Channel 12, bluntly described the media’s predicament, revealing that concerns over viewer retention heavily influence coverage choices. “If I broadcast too much about what’s happening in the Gaza Strip, we will lose viewers,” he acknowledged. This troubling admission underscores a chilling truth: the Israeli media’s reluctance to engage with the realities of the conflict is rooted in a fear of alienating an audience that has grown increasingly disinterested in the suffering of Palestinians.
Polling data further illustrates this disconnect, revealing that a staggering 64 percent of Israelis are satisfied with the current war coverage and similarly agree with the dehumanizing assertion that “there are no innocent people in Gaza.” Such sentiments are echoed by public figures who exploit them to rationalize the staggering civilian toll in Gaza, where countless women and children bear the brunt of military operations.
However, this media landscape is reflective of deeper trends within Israeli society—a society that has shifted markedly to the right over the past two decades. As the voices of the left grow increasingly marginalized, the media landscape has adapted to mirror these hardline sentiments. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s administration has further compounded this issue by targeting journalists with anti-media legislation and fostering an environment of intimidation. Veteran journalist Anat Saragusti has highlighted that this orchestrated campaign against the press has led to actual violence against reporters, creating a climate of fear that stifles open discourse.
Moreover, military censorship looms heavily over the Israeli media. Journalists must navigate a complex web of military oversight, with censors approving war-related content before it can be aired. This suppression of dissenting narratives hampers the potential for critical coverage of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, as journalists are pressured to focus predominantly on the war effort rather than the civilian costs.
The shift in coverage has also transformed the lens through which Palestinians are portrayed in Israeli media. Previously, reporters sought to cultivate a nuanced understanding of life in Gaza and the West Bank; now, coverage is predominantly framed through a security-centric lens, reducing Palestinians to mere threats rather than recognizing their humanity. As journalist Nurit Yohanan noted, the overwhelming presence of military casualties within Israeli families further complicates the potential for empathetic reporting on Palestinian suffering.
In contrast, some journalists, like Nir Hasson from Haaretz, challenge the prevailing narrative. His coverage of the humanitarian situation in Gaza contradicts the notion that finding reliable sources is nearly impossible. By tapping into local networks and international aid workers, Hasson demonstrates that it is entirely feasible to report on the realities of Gaza, even amid an atmosphere of censorship and intimidation.
Yet, despite these efforts, media coverage remains insufficient. The Israeli public, subjected to a constant barrage of nationalist rhetoric, is often shielded from the stark realities of the conflict. Social media platforms have become the primary sources of news for many, but these channels frequently reinforce the narratives propagated by mainstream media, creating an echo chamber of denial and disinformation.
As Saragusti notes, there are indications of a gradual shift in coverage, with mainstream outlets beginning to showcase the human suffering in Gaza. However, we must demand more than mere glimpses of truth. It is imperative that Israeli media transcends its current limitations and embraces a moral duty to report comprehensively on the humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in Gaza. Only through accountability and a commitment to illuminating the full spectrum of human experience can we hope to foster a more just and equitable future. The time for change is long overdue; it is about time that the Israeli media tells the whole story.
This article highlights the importance of SPOT ON GAZA.
