Imagine a nation where every hospital is free of cost irrespective to your status, caste, gender, religion, nationality. A multi-speciality hospital providing you a clothes, well furnished wards, delicious food, specialized doctors, that too free of cost. Not just this even giving the patient money and food as a compensation for being out of work during his hospital stay. Isn't it mind-blowing?? This is what hospitals were in the Islamic Civilization. In early medieval where Europe belief that illness is supernatural, uncontrollable, incurable. Muslims took completely different approach because of the saying of prophet Muhammadﷺ, “God has sent down the disease and he has appointed cure for every disease, so treat yourself medically”(¹) Mobile Dispensaries The first known Islamic care center was set up in a tent by Rufaydah al-Aslamiyah r.a during the lifetime of the Prophet Muhammadﷺ. Famously, during the Ghazwah Khandaq, she treated the wounded in a separ...
Unequal narratives: Western Media bias and the Skewed Representation of Palestinian Women and Children
Western outlets disproportionately emphasize Israeli casualties, humanizing them with personal details, names, and stories, while Palestinian deaths are anonymized or reduced to numbers. For example, headlines like “Israeli mother killed by rocket” contrast sharply with “Several Palestinians dead in airstrike.” Language further compounds this bias, with terms like “collateral damage” and “tragic accidents” used to describe Palestinian deaths, often in passive voice (“children died” rather than “children were killed”).
This disparity highlights a selective empathy, where Israeli victims are seen as innocent and deserving of global sympathy, while Palestinian lives are devalued, their deaths framed as inevitable or self-inflicted.
Palestinian women and children are often depicted through stereotypes that strip them of agency and humanity. Women are portrayed as either oppressed victims or complicit in violence, such as the mothers of “martyrs.” Meanwhile, Palestinian children are framed as “future threats” or potential extremists.
Media coverage frequently focuses on images of boys throwing stones or holding toy guns, reinforcing harmful stereotypes of inherent violence. At the same time, the psychological trauma, poverty, and displacement experienced by Palestinian families are rarely explored. Stories of individual suffering and resilience are largely absent, dehumanizing Palestinians further.
Western media employs language that obscures the power imbalance and justifies Israeli military actions. Terms like “security operations” and “targeted strikes” are used to sanitize the violence Palestinians face, while civilian casualties are often blamed on Hamas for allegedly using “human shields.”
The conflict is framed as a “cycle of violence,” implying equal responsibility between the two sides, despite the vast asymmetry in power and casualties. This false equivalence not only misrepresents the reality but also absolves Israel of accountability for its actions.
Palestinian perspectives are systematically underrepresented in Western media. Israeli government sources dominate the narrative, while Palestinian voices are often dismissed as biased or unreliable. Even Palestinian journalists face significant restrictions, both in terms of physical movement and editorial freedom.
Biased media coverage shapes public opinion, fostering indifference or misunderstanding of Palestinian suffering. This narrative supports Western policies that align with Israeli interests, normalizing occupation and violence. The dehumanization of Palestinians entrenches stereotypes, making it harder to foster empathy or seek solutions.
In media, politics, and public discourse, Israeli and Palestinian lives are valued unequally. Israeli deaths receive personalized and empathetic attention, while Palestinian deaths are treated as mere statistics. This disparity reflects deeper power asymmetries and reinforces policies that perpetuate inequality.
For instance, Israeli civilian deaths are framed as unprovoked acts of terrorism, while Palestinian civilian deaths are often attributed to Hamas, implying Palestinians are indirectly responsible for their own suffering.
Israeli children are portrayed as symbols of innocence, while Palestinian children are depicted as potential combatants. Media coverage of Israeli children’s trauma during rocket attacks starkly contrasts with the lack of attention to the psychological impact of airstrikes, displacement, and blockade on Palestinian children.
Palestinian women are often reduced to stereotypes, either as victims of patriarchal oppression or as active participants in violence. This framing denies their individuality and humanity, in contrast to the portrayal of Israeli women as grieving mothers or defenders of the nation.
Dehumanizing Palestinians enables the justification of policies that perpetuate violence and occupation. Euphemisms like “surgical strikes” obscure the reality of civilian casualties, framing Israeli military actions as defensive rather than aggressive.
CNN has faced criticism for its biased coverage, often privileging Israeli narratives. For instance, during an eight-day conflict, CNN interviewed 45 Israeli officials compared to only 20 Palestinians. Language disparities are also evident, with Israeli casualties described as victims of “barbaric” attacks, while Palestinian deaths are framed as “clashes” or “collateral damage.”
The conflict is framed as a “cycle of violence,” implying equal responsibility between the two sides, despite the vast asymmetry in power and casualties. This false equivalence not only misrepresents the reality but also absolves Israel of accountability for its actions.
Palestinian perspectives are systematically underrepresented in Western media. Israeli government sources dominate the narrative, while Palestinian voices are often dismissed as biased or unreliable. Even Palestinian journalists face significant restrictions, both in terms of physical movement and editorial freedom.
Biased media coverage shapes public opinion, fostering indifference or misunderstanding of Palestinian suffering. This narrative supports Western policies that align with Israeli interests, normalizing occupation and violence. The dehumanization of Palestinians entrenches stereotypes, making it harder to foster empathy or seek solutions.
In media, politics, and public discourse, Israeli and Palestinian lives are valued unequally. Israeli deaths receive personalized and empathetic attention, while Palestinian deaths are treated as mere statistics. This disparity reflects deeper power asymmetries and reinforces policies that perpetuate inequality.
For instance, Israeli civilian deaths are framed as unprovoked acts of terrorism, while Palestinian civilian deaths are often attributed to Hamas, implying Palestinians are indirectly responsible for their own suffering.
Israeli children are portrayed as symbols of innocence, while Palestinian children are depicted as potential combatants. Media coverage of Israeli children’s trauma during rocket attacks starkly contrasts with the lack of attention to the psychological impact of airstrikes, displacement, and blockade on Palestinian children.
Palestinian women are often reduced to stereotypes, either as victims of patriarchal oppression or as active participants in violence. This framing denies their individuality and humanity, in contrast to the portrayal of Israeli women as grieving mothers or defenders of the nation.
Dehumanizing Palestinians enables the justification of policies that perpetuate violence and occupation. Euphemisms like “surgical strikes” obscure the reality of civilian casualties, framing Israeli military actions as defensive rather than aggressive.
CNN has faced criticism for its biased coverage, often privileging Israeli narratives. For instance, during an eight-day conflict, CNN interviewed 45 Israeli officials compared to only 20 Palestinians. Language disparities are also evident, with Israeli casualties described as victims of “barbaric” attacks, while Palestinian deaths are framed as “clashes” or “collateral damage.”
Similarly, the BBC has been criticized for describing Israeli actions as “retaliation” and Palestinian deaths as “collateral damage,” shifting responsibility away from the Israeli military. In one case, the BBC labeled the killing of a Palestinian boy as a “lonely death,” downplaying the role of Israeli soldiers who left him to die.
Western media’s biased portrayal of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict perpetuates stereotypes, dehumanization, and systemic inequality. Ethical journalism must prioritize balanced reporting, amplify marginalized voices, and challenge narratives that justify violence.
By addressing these biases, media can foster greater empathy, understanding, and the potential for justice and peace in one of the world’s most enduring conflicts.
@author
Arbaz Ahmad
Multidisciplinary thinker with expertise in geopolitics, Islamic theology, and Indian politics. A Mathematics Olympiad qualifier, blends analytical rigor with a deep understanding of Historical and Philosophical Paradigms to provide Nuanced perspectives on Contemporary Issues.
Email
Instagram
Great 👍
ReplyDelete