As the Israeli killing machine continues to slaughter innocent civilians in the besieged Gaza enclave, Palestinians are also facing a different type of psychological war, which seems, so far, to be working in favor of the Israeli occupation.
Hundreds of innocent civilians have either been killed or severely wounded because of the ruthless and brutal Israeli airstrikes. Add to that the countless number of Palestinians who are left homeless after the Israeli warplanes have demolished their homes.
It is a dirty game played by those who claim to be protectors of democracy and those who have been preaching and lecturing us about the ethics of journalism.
Despite the bloodshed perpetrated by the Israelis against innocent citizens in Gaza, the US and the Israeli propaganda continues to send a misleading message to their audience. Most of the reports that are being aired or reported portray the Israelis as victims of Palestinian brutality, putting them as equal forces at war.
Since the Israeli occupation has intensified its crackdown against the Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and in Gaza, and since the Israeli Army has launched the operation against innocent civilians in Gaza and despite the horrific scenes coming from Gaza on the ground, the mainstream media in Israel and the US seem to be telling only one side of the story and still insists on ignoring the Palestinian side of the story.
In one of its earlier headlines, the Wall Street Journal said “Israeli Air Defense Intercept More Rockets as Fighting Continues.” Such misleading headline gives a wrong perception to an audience barely aware of what is happening in this part of the world.
Meanwhile the Los Angeles Times said “Palestinian Rockets Reach Farther into Israel.” Again, reading such a headline gives an impression that the Israelis are the victims and living under Palestinian brutality. The New York Times, however, describes the Israel’s inhuman airstrikes against the innocent population in Gaza as if it was a war between two equal armies by saying Israel and Hamas “exchanged fire.”
Of course I don’t expect the Western media to side with the Palestinians against the Israelis, but the least they should do is to comply with the ethics of journalism and neutrality that they have been preaching to us about for decades. But again, what can you expect more from media apprentice who work as the US and the Israeli governments’ mouthpiece.
Even the US response to the violence and the killing of innocent people was ridiculous and not even less despicable. White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said in his statement the US strongly condemned the rocket firing into Israel and the deliberate targeting of civilians by terrorist organizations in Gaza.
“No country can accept rocket fire aimed at civilians and we support Israel’s right to defend itself against these vicious attacks,” he said.
The reality on the ground, however, is a totally different story than what is being portrayed by the US and Israel media who are mind-controlling their audience.
Mr. Earnest seems to be unaware that by the time this report is published, Israel will have killed more than 104 Palestinians, injured more than 700 people and demolished more than 50 houses, according to Palestinian Health Ministry.
Israel, the occupying power, is fully responsible for this escalation in the region, and its criminal assault and actions against the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Palestinians are victims and they are fighting a decades-long battle against their colonizer. But as far as the media is concerned, facts must be reported and people have the right to know who is the oppressor and who is oppressed.
