TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — The war in the Gaza Strip is starting to look different these days on the Israeli news.
For most of the past two years, television stations in Israel have paid little attention to suffering in Gaza, giving viewers a steady stream of stories about Israeli heroism, the agony of hostages’ families and the deaths of soldiers in combat.
But that is changing. In recent months, some Israeli stations have begun to share graphic images of malnourished children and a few deeply reported stories about the difficulties of daily life for Palestinians.
This subtle shift comes as Israel faces unprecedented global outrage over the ongoing war, reflecting deep divisions over whether the military offensive should be halted.
“It’s not just truly caring about the situation in Gaza, but also from an Israeli perspective, are we acting correctly in a way that serves the aims of this war?” said Eran Amsalem, a communications professor at Israel’s Hebrew University.
Following the escalating conflict since the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas attacks, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has largely ignored the mass movement calling for an end to the war focused on returning hostages, making appeals on behalf of Palestinians less effective.
While Israel has traditionally focused its media portrayal on its own suffering, voices calling for acknowledgment of the Palestinian plight are beginning to emerge, albeit cautiously, amid fears of backlash. Notably, journalists like Yonit Levi have faced significant criticism for their sympathetic comments towards humanitarian conditions in Gaza.
Coverage has slightly shifted in recent weeks, with some longer stories about Palestinians appearing in major outlets. Despite these changes, mainstream news continues to focus heavily on domestic issues, sidelining the humanitarian context in Gaza.
“After Oct. 7, there’s no doubt that something was broken, and it became completely illegitimate to deal with the pain of the other side,” said journalist Nir Hasson, indicating the challenges faced by those advocating for a balanced narrative.
As protests mount against military actions and calls for humanitarian considerations gain traction, the evolving portrayal of the Gaza conflict in Israeli media reflects not just journalistic choices, but profound societal divides.
