Israeli media begins to report on Palestinian suffering amid escalating conflict

In recent months, coverage of the conflict in Gaza has begun to shift within Israeli media, which has historically focused on the narrative surrounding Israeli heroism and the impact of the war on Israelis. For two years, little attention was paid to the suffering of Palestinians amidst the war, with news reports often highlighting hostages' families and Israeli soldiers' deaths. Reports suggest that around 1,200 people, primarily civilians, have been killed in Israel since the outbreak of the conflict, alongside ongoing concerns regarding the fate of hostages taken by Hamas. The Israeli media landscape has recently begun to change, with some outlets starting to shed light on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza resulting from the ongoing military offensive. Eran Amsalem, a communications professor at Hebrew University, points out that the shift is not just about caring for Palestinian suffering but also about reflecting on whether Israel's actions serve the objectives of the conflict. Prominent journalist Raviv Drucker has remarked on the peculiar nature of the war, highlighting how the advent of social media and phone cameras has made it more difficult for media to ignore the realities faced by Palestinians. Despite the shift in coverage, many commentators from right-wing outlets express a harsh stance towards Palestinians, often justifying military actions taken by Israel. The Gaza Health Ministry has reported that over 64,000 Palestinians have been killed, though the Israeli government disputes these claims without providing its own figures. This discrepancy raises questions about the reliability of information presented by both sides. Such perspectives contribute to a media landscape where Palestinian hardships were previously underreported, fostering a sense of moral failure in Israeli journalism's failure to fully present the humanitarian catastrophe. As humanitarian issues gain more attention in Israeli news, the stark contrast in previous coverage raises difficult questions about media responsibility and the public's awareness of the broader implications of ongoing military operations. The newfound focus on the dire situation in Gaza follows a recognition among some Israeli journalists that Israeli society is more receptive to understanding the complexities of the conflict than previously presumed. Their acknowledgment indicates a potential shift towards a more balanced representation of both sides’ suffering, challenging the notion that addressing Palestinian humanitarian issues undermines Israeli public diplomacy.