LONDON: Israeli newspaper Haaretz has criticized the country鈥檚 journalists for their 鈥渟ilence鈥� regarding the killing of Gaza-based media workers during the ongoing conflict.

In a column published Wednesday, Palestinian Israeli journalist Hanin Majadli highlighted the stark polarization within Israeli media, arguing that most Israeli journalists 鈥渁re indifferent to the fate of their peers in Gaza,鈥� who are often perceived as aligned with Hamas and, thus, 鈥渄eserve to die.鈥�

She wrote: 鈥淎ccording to the Committee to Protect Journalists, over 110 reporters and media crew members have been killed in Gaza since October 7, a worse result than in World War II, the Korea War, the Vietnam War and the wars in Iraq.鈥�

Majadli added: 鈥淭his development doesn鈥檛 get much attention because in Israel, including in the media, all journalists from Gaza 鈥� actually everybody in the Strip 鈥� are members of Hamas, its elite Nukhba force, murderers and rapists. Or at the very least, they鈥檙e accomplices and supporters of terrorism.鈥�

An outspoken advocate for Arab-Palestinian rights in Israel, Majadli criticized the 鈥渂attle of narratives鈥� between Israeli media and international outlets like Al Jazeera, which she says is dismissed as mere propaganda within Israel.

鈥淲hat if these journalists are the Gazans鈥� only way to broadcast their plight to the world? What if the rest of the world views these reporters as journalists risking their lives on the battlefield to get the story 鈥� the way journalists are supposed to 鈥� and they鈥檙e having a hard time due to Israel鈥檚 hermetic control over Gaza?鈥� she argued.

鈥淥nly a state in breach of international law would so closely monitor news reports about what's happening under its rule. Only a state that feels threatened by a free, independent media would consider the death of over 110 journalists 鈥榗ollateral damage.鈥欌€�

Majadli also pointed out that Israel has banned foreign journalists from entering Gaza unless they are 鈥渃losely accompanied鈥� by soldiers from the Israeli military鈥檚 spokesperson鈥檚 unit.

This restriction has been contested by international media organizations and press freedom advocates, who argue that it imposes an 鈥渦ntenable burden鈥� on local journalists and fosters an environment ripe for misinformation.

Israel has faced accusations of carrying out a 鈥渞etaliatory campaign鈥� against journalists and media workers in Gaza, which some have called war crimes, a charge the Israeli military has consistently denied.

鈥淲ith the number of dead in Gaza approaching 40,000, the notion that journalists, of all people, will be protected sounds particularly ludicrous,鈥� Majadli continued.

鈥淩eporters鈥� efforts to identify themselves have failed to protect them, and there have been claims that journalists actually have been targeted by the army. The Israeli military officially denies that it views journalists in Gaza as targets, so why are so many of them getting killed?鈥�

Majadli鈥檚 concerns have been echoed by other commentators, including Palestinian journalists like Linah Alsaafin, who has recently criticized both Israeli and international media for their 鈥渘auseating silence鈥� on the issue.

The 鈥渓ack of empathy鈥� and 鈥渆mpty press statements鈥� from international organizations, such as the Committee to Protect Journalists, were also criticized, with calls for 鈥済enuine action鈥� and a need to 鈥渟tand up to the bully鈥� by actively rejecting the Israeli narratives that often dominate newsrooms.

鈥淭his is why there hasn鈥檛 been a single petition against the killing of journalists in Gaza, not one demonstration outside any newsroom. Who would sign something like that?鈥� Majadli asked.

鈥淲hat can you expect from a media culture that grooms its future generation in Army Radio? Will these journalists ever truly take a stand?鈥�

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