Long before Israel’s formation, the Zionist movement effectively used media propaganda in the Western world. The phrase “a land without people for a people without land” dominated discussions, facilitating the expulsion of Palestinians from their ancestral land, Palestine, during Al-Nakba (“the Catastrophe”).
This deception thrived through extensive brainwashing, termed the Zionisation of global conscience, utilizing relentless propaganda to dehumanize Palestinians. Exploiting the atrocities of Nazi crimes and Europe’s antisemitism history, the Zionist movement crafted a narrative justifying Palestinian displacement, relieving global guilt.
A new propaganda era emerged two years ago, forcefully Zionising global consciousness. Twisting reality, Zionists insisted history began on October 7, silencing any mention of past injustices, occupation, Nakba, and oppression. The UN Secretary-General faced backlash for noting events did not occur in isolation. A slogan, “Nothing justifies October 7,” remains incomplete, overshadowing ongoing atrocities.
A frequently echoed slogan, “Israel has the right to defend itself,” rational scrutiny reveals its hollowness. Self-defense is universal, yet constant repetition falsely portrays a nuclear-armed Israel under daily existential threat. Palestinians are denied the same right to self-defense and liberation.
Under international law, as the occupying power, Israel lacks self-defense rights against the occupied. It holds a legal obligation to safeguard Palestinian civilians, a basic principle overlooked in mainstream media.
“Israel’s legitimate security concerns,” a vague term manipulated by Israel, obstructs peaceful Palestinian resolutions. Undefined “concerns” validate law violations and thwart peace initiatives.
An occupying nuclear power expanding illegal settlements demands prioritization of its “security concerns.” Palestinians are expected to ensure settlers’ safety, despite settlers terrorizing Palestinian communities and seizing land.
Many who speak out are quickly labeled “antisemitic,” an overused tactic to stifle dissent. Western media amplifies certain narratives, erasing others, complicit in misleading global discourse.
<p"Before the war, media spotlighted "Gaza tunnels" as sophisticated, but the narrative faded due to logical flaws. The demand for foreign reporters in Gaza, claiming "independent coverage," delegitimized Palestinian journalists, casting them as biased despite risking their lives to report.
The Israeli occupation is replaced by the sanitized term “Israel,” while “Hamas” is consistently labeled a “terrorist organization,” dehumanizing Palestinians. Mainstream coverage ignores Palestinian trauma, emphasizing Israeli suffering post-October 7.
Complicit media war worsens Palestinian plight, delegitimizing and dehumanizing, burdening Palestinians. Countering this narrative and restoring global conscience is vital.
(Views expressed in this opinion piece are those of the author)
(Abdullah M. Abu Shawesh is the