Netanyahu pushes boycott against Haaretz for reporting on Gaza war
- On October 7, 2023, Hamas attacked Israel, leading to a significant escalation of conflict.
- Israel launched a strong counteroffensive resulting in substantial civilian casualties in Gaza.
- Haaretz remains one of the few media outlets addressing the suffering and human rights issues amidst the ongoing war.
In October 2023, Israel faced an unprecedented attack when Hamas militants entered from Gaza, targeting civilians and soldiers. This prompted Hezbollah's involvement from Lebanon, subsequently leading to a fierce Israeli retaliation that resulted in significant civilian casualties in the Gaza Strip. The war's escalation has continued for more than a year, drastically affecting public perception and media coverage of the conflict in Israel. Mainstream Israeli media undertook a self-censorship approach characterized by harsh reporting that showed little sympathy for the suffering of Palestinians in Gaza and Lebanon. Haaretz, however, has maintained a different stance, highlighting the human suffering and operating with broader coverage, including embedding reporters with the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF). This distinct perspective encountered backlash from within the Israeli government, particularly from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his allies, marking Haaretz as a target for accusations of disseminating anti-Israel propaganda. Following accusations of their critical reporting, communications minister Shlomo Karhi proposed a boycott against the newspaper, indicating a chilling effect on press freedom in the context of enduring conflict.