Exposing What Others Prefer to Hide The Dismal State of Hamas Propoganda by Media

[Social Media]

Unveiling the Media's Role in Hamas' Manipulation of the Gaza Conflict

 

The interplay between media coverage and the activities of Hamas in Gaza presents a disturbing picture of manipulation, misinformation, and propaganda. The death of Abdallah Aljamal, a journalist affiliated with Hamas, during an Israeli raid aimed at rescuing hostages, brings to light the dismal state of press coverage from Gaza. Aljamal, far from being an innocent journalist, was directly involved in holding Israeli civilians captive, a fact that has been largely overlooked by international media. This incident exposes a broader issue: the systematic weaponization of the press by Hamas and the unwitting complicity of journalists who operate within Gaza.

 

 

Israeli officials have long warned about Hamas' manipulation of the media. Maj. Nir Dinar, an Israeli military spokesman, stated, "Hamas sees press, and especially press that is stationed inside Gaza, as a tool in its war. The only goal is to survive, and [Hamas leader Yahya] Sinwar knows that the only way in which he can survive is creating international pressure on Israel." This statement underscores the tactical use of media by Hamas to generate sympathy and international condemnation of Israel's actions, regardless of the underlying realities of the conflict.

 

The Palestine Chronicle, a U.S.-based media outlet registered as a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, exemplifies how pro-Hamas sentiment can masquerade as independent journalism. The outlet claims to consist of "professional journalists and respected writers and authors who don’t speak on behalf of any political party or champion any specific political agenda." However, a closer examination of the contributors' digital footprints reveals clear pro-Hamas sympathies. Aljamal, who was identified by the freed Israeli hostages as one of their captors, regularly posted content on social media expressing support for Hamas.

 

In one instance, he shared an image of a funeral procession with a Hamas flag and fighters, and in another, he posted photos of a young boy in Hamas garb at a training camp. His support for the October 7 attack, in which nearly 1,200 Israelis were killed, further underscores his alignment with Hamas.

 

 

Following the Israeli operation that resulted in Aljamal's death, the Palestine Chronicle attempted to distance itself from him, first describing him as a "correspondent" and later as a "contributor." This shift in language highlights the outlet's attempt to manage its public image amidst growing scrutiny. In his obituary, the Chronicle claimed, "Aljamal’s relationship with the Palestine Chronicle was that of a freelance contributor. He was neither a staff writer nor a contractor." This denial, however, does little to address the broader issue of the outlet's apparent pro-Hamas bias.

 

 

Ramzy Baroud, the Chronicle’s editor-in-chief, further exemplifies this bias. In a live chat on X (formerly known as Twitter), Baroud praised the October 7 perpetrators and spread misinformation about their victims. He incorrectly claimed that the attack targeted Israeli settlements on occupied Gazan territory and falsely stated that the abductees were "mostly soldiers" when the majority were civilians. Baroud's statement, "We cannot or should not apologize for the resistance. Resisting is a human right," underscores his ideological alignment with Hamas.

 

The Chronicle's contributors have also been linked to Iranian state-run media, revealing a troubling nexus between U.S.-based pro-Hamas outlets and Iranian propaganda efforts. Stories published by the Chronicle have lauded figures like Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and praised Iran's support for the Palestinian cause. These connections raise serious questions about the Chronicle's objectivity and its role in spreading anti-Israel sentiment.

 

In light of these revelations, a group of Republican senators has called on the Biden administration to revoke the Palestine Chronicle's tax-exempt status, citing its apparent ties to a U.S.-designated terrorist group. Sen. Ted Budd of North Carolina stated, "The potential link between this publication and Hamas terrorists should be more than enough justification for the IRS to open an investigation into their tax-exempt status in the United States. If the terrorism links are proven and substantiated, this status should be immediately revoked." Despite the gravity of these allegations, the Chronicle’s potential ties to terrorist organizations have received limited attention from major U.S. media outlets.

 

The coverage of the recent Israeli hostage rescue operation serves as a microcosm of the media's approach to the Israel-Hamas conflict. Major Western media outlets, including the Associated Press, have largely focused on the unsubstantiated civilian death toll provided by the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry. This reliance on Hamas' figures often leads to a skewed portrayal of the conflict, with Israeli military actions framed as disproportionately violent. Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, spokesman for the Israel Defense Forces, estimated that the operation killed "under 100," including Hamas operatives and civilians caught in the crossfire. Yet, the headline from the Associated Press read: "How an Israeli raid freed 4 hostages and killed at least 274 Palestinians in Gaza."

 

This pattern of coverage reflects what author and journalist Matti Friedman describes as the media's "predictable" role in every major conflict since 2008. According to Friedman, "Hamas attacks, Israel has some legitimacy to respond, the legitimacy runs low as the number of civilian casualties—real or manufactured—increases, and, at some point, Israel has to stop fighting and Hamas has time to regroup and attack again. This is predicated on the Western press playing ball [with Hamas]."

 

Hamas' exploitation of the media involves inflating death tolls, conflating civilian and combatant deaths, and falsely attributing destruction caused by Palestinian rockets to Israeli airstrikes. Hamas embeds its fighters and weapons in civilian buildings, including mosques, schools, and hospitals, to either deter Israeli strikes or provoke international condemnation when strikes occur. A prime example is Hamas' extensive tunnel network beneath densely populated areas of Gaza, designed to protect its fighters while leaving civilians vulnerable. Despite the presence of major Western news organizations in Gaza, these military tunnels receive minimal coverage because, as Friedman asserts, "That’s the story you’re not supposed to cover. It would subvert the political goal of the coverage, so the press has been more or less happy, as far as I can tell, to look where Hamas tells them to look."

 

The media's role in the Gaza conflict is not merely about reporting the news; it is about the selective presentation of facts and the framing of narratives that can profoundly influence international opinion and policy. The failure to critically examine sources like the Gaza Health Ministry or the Palestine Chronicle, and the tendency to overlook the complexities of Hamas' tactics, contribute to a distorted understanding of the conflict. This distortion serves Hamas' strategic interests, enabling it to perpetuate a cycle of violence under the guise of resistance and victimhood.

 

The international community and media must recognize and address the ways in which they are manipulated by Hamas. A more rigorous, skeptical approach to sources and narratives is essential for providing an accurate depiction of the conflict. Only through such scrutiny can the media fulfill its duty to inform the public truthfully and prevent itself from becoming an unwitting accomplice in the perpetuation of violence and terror.

 

Related Topics:

Israeli Forces Rescue Hostages, Held By Al Jazeera & Palestine Chronicle Journalist

Al Jazeera journalist reportedly moonlights as Hamas commander claims IDF

 

Credit: The Dispatch 2024-06-19

 

Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe

[Neeranam]

Propaganda on both sides.

 

https://www.e-ir.info/2024/02/13/israeli-propaganda-and-palestinian-demonisation/

[Neeranam]

The diffence with the current Israel conflict, the word can see what is really happening through social medi.

https://theconversation.com/gaza-is-now-the-frontline-of-a-global-information-war-221356

[Bkk Brian]

6 hours ago, Social Media said:

Hamas' exploitation of the media involves inflating death tolls, conflating civilian and combatant deaths, and falsely attributing destruction caused by Palestinian rockets to Israeli airstrikes. Hamas embeds its fighters and weapons in civilian buildings, including mosques, schools, and hospitals, to either deter Israeli strikes or provoke international condemnation when strikes occur. A prime example is Hamas' extensive tunnel network beneath densely populated areas of Gaza, designed to protect its fighters while leaving civilians vulnerable. Despite the presence of major Western news organizations in Gaza, these military tunnels receive minimal coverage because, as Friedman asserts, "That’s the story you’re not supposed to cover. It would subvert the political goal of the coverage, so the press has been more or less happy, as far as I can tell, to look where Hamas tells them to look."

The OP 

 

backed up by many other articles and evidence

[Neeranam]

Does anyone think that this is related to Israel propaganda?

 

Israel among top jailers of journalists worldwide, as imprisonments globally continue unabated, CPJ finds 

 

Israel exploits draconian methods to silence Palestinian journalists. This practice must stop,” said Jodie Ginsberg, CPJ’s chief executive officer.

 

https://cpj.org/2024/01/israel-among-top-jailers-of-journalists-worldwide-as-imprisonments-globally-continue-unabated-cpj-finds/#:~:text=New York%2C January 18%2C 2024,(CPJ) annual prison census.

[Bkk Brian]

1 minute ago, Neeranam said:

Does anyone think that this is related to Israel propaganda?

 

Israel among top jailers of journalists worldwide, as imprisonments globally continue unabated, CPJ finds 

 

Israel exploits draconian methods to silence Palestinian journalists. This practice must stop,” said Jodie Ginsberg, CPJ’s chief executive officer.

 

https://cpj.org/2024/01/israel-among-top-jailers-of-journalists-worldwide-as-imprisonments-globally-continue-unabated-cpj-finds/#:~:text=New York%2C January 18%2C 2024,(CPJ) annual prison census.

Its credited to Dispatch. Try again

 

https://mediabiasfactcheck.com/the-dispatch/

[Jeff the Chef]

US, Israel and Argentina slip down World Press Freedom Index
Press freedom declining around the world as a result of political pressure, suppression of independent media and harassment of journalists, RSF says

Press freedom is in decline around the over as a consequence of political pressure, disinformation, suppression of independent media and harassment of journalists, according to the latest World Press Freedom Index.

The annual index is compiled by Reporters Without Borders, or RSF as it’s known by its French initials, an international nonprofit focussed on safeguarding the right to freedom of information.

The 2024 index, published on Friday.

 

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/world-press-freedom-index-us-israel-b2539069.html