By Marelinke van der Riet

The war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza re-ignited this week, and with it has come a potent wave of pro-Palestinian propaganda, as the media bias machine against Israel quickly swung back into gear following a two-month ceasefire. Thus, a distorted anti-Israel narrative is taking shape once again, shockingly ensnaring countless news consumers worldwide.

The truce-and-hostage release deal lasted from January 19 until March 18, and thankfully saw the freeing of 33 Israeli hostages alive and the bodies of four deceased Israelis, including Shiri Bibas and her murdered young sons Ariel and Kfir. But the ceasefire collapsed overnight on Tuesday after Hamas repeatedly refused to release more hostages. This prompted Israel to launch a surprise wave of airstrikes on Hamas commanders in Gaza to pressure the terrorist faction to agree to a truce extension.

Global headlines immediately accused Israel of breaching the ceasefire and killing 400 Palestinians—dutifully reporting as fact once more the dubious figures dispensed by the Gaza Ministry of Health, which is run by Hamas.

By instantly blaming Israel, the media ignored that the truce itself stipulates that phase one of the deal would automatically be extended as long as phase two negotiations were in progress. Israel also has maintained that the second phase requires the demilitarisation of Gaza, while Hamas has been parading its weapons in public again and adamantly refuses to disarm.

This all shows that the conflict is not just a battle between armed forces—it is a battle for truth. It is a battle against the pervasive media bias that continually misrepresents Israel’s actions, painting them in a negative light even as the rocket sirens blare once more all across the country. Each passing day, the media twists facts, uses selective phrasing, and omits key information to shape public perception in favour of Israel’s adversaries.

The age-old saying goes: “Every story has two sides.” Buthow often do we see the press accept the Palestinian perspective without question? And when Israel is inevitably proven right, the damage has already been done.

So, let’s get the story straight.

The Hypocrisy and Contradictions in the Palestinian Narrative

The hypocrisy and incoherence of the Palestinian narrative are overwhelming, yet they continue to garner sympathy and support from the international community. Palestinians and their supporters call for a “boycott of all Israeli things,” even targeting non-Israeli companies like Starbucks simply because their founders are Jewish. Yet, these same boycotters are quick to demand that Israel provide aid and services to Gaza.

They call for a “global intifada,” meaning a violent uprising against Jews and their friends everywhere. Yet these same voices demand a “ceasefire now.” They insist on an end to the Israeli occupation while rejecting peace offers that could have granted the Palestinians their own state long ago. These glaring contradictions are rarely addressed by pro-Palestinian activists and their compliant allies in the media.

Meanwhile, they downplay or deny the enormity of the Holocaust, with some calling it “a Jewish Zionist invention,” even while others say, “Hitler was right! He should have finished the job!” This double-speak is ignored by the media, or worse, excused and rationalised as a pardonable practice in the Palestinian struggle for self-determination.

Sins of Omission: The Selective Reporting of Events

One of the oldest tricks in this chronic media bias is the use of omission. The idea is simple: when you leave out critical pieces of the story, you skew the narrative. For example, on numerous occasions in 2024, news outlets around the world reported that “Israel fired rockets into Lebanon,” but many failed to mention that these rockets were retaliation for previous Hizbullah rocket fire from Lebanon into Israel. By excluding the context of ongoing missile and drone attacks deliberately targeting Israeli civilians, the story becomes one of unprovoked aggression rather than self-defense.

Isaiah 5:20 warns us: “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness.” (NKJV) This biblical warning perfectly describes the media’s selective omission, where true context is often concealed or twisted to favour one side while demonizing the other.

Clever Wording: Manipulating the Narrative

In addition to omission, wording is another powerful tool used by the media to influence public opinion. On June 8, 2024, headlines across major outlets celebrated the “release” of four Israeli hostages held by Hamas. One of these hostages was Noa Argamani. At first glance, this may seem like a positive development. However, a closer look reveals the manipulative phrasing. The hostages were not “released” by Hamas; they were rescued by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) after enduring unimaginable trauma at the hands of their captors. It was Israel’s military intervention, not Hamas goodwill, that freed them.

The same applies to the Bibas brothers. They did not simply “die” in Gaza. An autopsy revealed they had been brutally murdered with bare hands.

These are just two examples of how subtle or clever word choices in media coverage can mislead the public. Such distortions of truth lie at the heart of the Palestinian narrative and the media amplifies them. But rest assured, those responsible will ultimately face consequences. Proverbs 19:5 is clear: “A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who speaks lies will not escape.” (NKJV)

Double Standards: The Unjustified Scrutiny of Israel

Perhaps the most glaring example of media bias is the double standard applied to Israel. A shocking interview aired on BBC in late 2024, where a reporter questioned Jonathan Conricus, a former IDF spokesperson, about why the IDF did not warn Gaza civilians before a covert military operation to rescue hostages in central Gaza. Conricus answered truthfully: “If we had warned, no hostages would have survived.” However, the reporter’s question suggests a dangerous and unrealistic expectation. Why would Israel be expected to give advance notice when doing so would endanger the lives of their own citizens and soldiers?

This question highlights the profound double standards often applied to Israel, where its actions are scrutinized in ways that would never be directed at other nations. No military in the world would be asked such a question, yet Israel’s actions are always held to a different, higher standard.

Pressure and Accountability: Media Manipulation in Casualty Reporting

This disparity becomes even more evident when we examine how the media manipulates casualty reporting to further this bias. For instance, when reporting on casualties, why does the media often highlight Palestinian deaths without providing essential context? After an Israeli operation in Gaza, headlines typically blare: “100 Palestinians killed in Israeli operation, mostly women and children,” or “50” or “500”—always some nice round figure they decide to use that day. In reality, a general rule of thumb would be to take those numbers, divide by 10, and assume 50% are Hamas combatants.

Further, the implication is obvious that Israel is always to blame for these deaths. However, the media rarely points out that many of these casualties were directly linked to Hamas’s use of human shields and the fact that Hamas militants do not distinguish between civilians and combatants. Moreover, the Hamas-run “Health Ministry” in Gaza frequently inflates the casualty numbers, which are then routinely parroted by the media and the UN—a malpractice proven time and again. Reliable sources are key.

On the Palestinian side, the media often fails to hold Hamas accountable for the civilian deaths caused by their actions. If Hamas refuses to release hostages or uses civilians as shields, the responsibility is conveniently shifted onto Israel. Despite Israel’s right to defend its citizens, it endures relentless scrutiny, while Hamas’s cruelty and refusal to negotiate are largely ignored.

Israel faces immense pressure to end the conflict and scale back military responses, yet no such pressure is ever applied to Hamas to release the hostages or end its violence. The truth is, the responsibility for these casualties rests solely with Hamas, who has chosen to use human shields and continues to reject peace proposals and hostage releases.

The Erosion of Objectivity, Neutrality and Impartiality

Journalistic integrity is supposed to be rooted in objectivity, yet many media outlets today are seen as more ideologically driven than fact driven. The decline of objective journalism has led to increasingly polarized media, where even reputable outlets may sacrifice impartiality for a specific narrative, particularly in complex conflicts such as the Israel-Palestine dispute.

Multiple reports have accused the BBC of bias in its coverage of the Israel-Hamas conflict. A recent study led by lawyer Trevor Asserson identified 1,553 instances where the BBC allegedly breached its own editorial guidelines, including issues of impartiality and accuracy.

Organizations like the UN, which are supposed to act as impartial observers, often take sides in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The media frequently quotes their reports and statements, which can carry significant weight in shaping public perception. International bodies, such as the UN, sometimes contribute to biased narratives by failing to hold all parties accountable equally, and their reports are often selectively used or misrepresented by the media. For instance, the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for fighting a just war, yet it has ignored the slaughter of hundreds of thousands of Syrian civilians by the Assad regime.

The Role of Social Media in Amplifying Bias

In the digital age, social media has become a powerful amplifier of media bias, often spreading misinformation, rumours, and biased narratives much faster than traditional outlets. These platforms contribute to the spread of anti-Israel sentiment by allowing misinformation to flourish and gain traction without proper fact-checking. Generation Z, in particular, is using TikTok as their primary information hub, leading them down a cesspool of anti-Israel sentiment. On the other hand, since October 7, Jewish influencers have risen to advocate for Israel and present the Israeli perspective. This is something we want to see more of.

A Call for Truth

As Christians and advocates of truth, we cannot afford to remain silent during such a critical time in history and in the face of such media manipulation. The media’s relentless bias against Israel distorts the truth, perpetuating injustice and misinformation that can, and already has, incited violence and division. It is crucial for those who stand with Israel to speak up and set the record straight when the media distorts the facts.

In the words of the prophet Isaiah: “For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent, for Jerusalem’s sake I will not remain quiet, till her vindication shines out like the dawn, her salvation like a blazing torch.” (Isaiah 62:1, NIV) And vindicated she will be!

In this ongoing conflict, we must stand resolute in our support for Israel and resist the media’s attempts to twist the truth. Israel has the right to defend itself, and we must ensure that the world hears the truth—not the biased and manipulated version that too often makes its way into the headlines. It is time for the world to see Israel not as the aggressor, but as the defender of justice and the protector of life.

Ultimately, the real story of Israel is being authored by God and shaped by His eternal truth, and no amount of media bias can ever erase it.

Main photo: ‘The Washington Post’s’ headline is misleading, as it fails to mention the 12 children killed in Israel, which justify Israel’s response in Lebanon. (Credit: GPO)