What went wrong with the British media coverage of the Gaza war?
Over the past five months, a lot has been said and written on the British media’s coverage of Israel’s war on Gaza. Experts, journalists and activists, including myself, have argued in numerous articles and interviews that the British media exhibits certain biases in its coverage of this war, and the broader issue of Israel-Palestine. In a new report, based on the largest statistical analysis of the media coverage of the atrocities committed in Israel on October 7, and Israel’s genocidal campaign against the Palestinian people in the first month of the war, the Muslim Council of Britain’s Centre of Media Monitoring (CfMM) laid out the empirical evidence for these observations and concerns. Looking at some 180,000 video clips from seven United Kingdom broadcasters and three international broadcasters, as well as about 26,000 news articles from 28 British media websites, CfMM has assessed whether the UK media have reliably informed the public on the conflict and shared the positions of all concerned parties responsibly. In line with the findings of smaller-scale studies conducted thus far, it found that Israeli narratives, voices and grievances were favoured over Palestinian voices, narratives and grievances in the coverage. “Israel’s rights” were insistently emphasised, often resulting in the exclusion and erasure of the rights of the Palestinians. Emotive language was consistently used for Israeli victims of violence, but not as much for the Palestinians. Representatives and supporters of Israel were allowed to dehumanise Palestinians on air, with no considerable pushback from news presenters and talk show hosts. Analysing the coverage under six themes – contextualisation, language, framing, claims, the undermining of Palestinian sources and the misrepresentation of pro-Palestinian protesters – the research found that many news outlets have opted to present news from an Israeli perspective, often with significant lapses in basic fact-checking and verification. Remarkably, the analysis unveiled that Palestinian symbols, such as the Palestinian flag, were overwhelmingly “used to illustrate stories on anti-Semitism”. It also exposed the many Islamophobic aspects of the coverage, such as the framing of pro-Palestine protests and support as inherently dangerous and akin to “a terror threat” often because of the Muslim presence among them. The report revealed that the Islamophobic trope of “Islam being an anti-Semitic religion” was repeatedly presented – by editors, analysts and columnists alike – as the driving force behind the growing opposition to Israel and its treatment of Palestinians. This led to the misrepresentation of the 75-year conflict in Israel-Palestine as a “religious war” between Muslims and Jews, rather than a matter of oppression and occupation. The report determined that pro-Palestinian voices and Palestinian activists have repeatedly been misrepresented by many British media outlets since the beginning of the conflict. It found that the right-wing media has been particularly hostile towards pro-Palestinian voices, “framing them as supporters of terrorism and anti-Semites as well as being hostile to British values”. The analysis also unearthed many instances of misinformation through deliberate omission. The context of decades-long Israeli oppression of Palestinian people and occupation of Palestinian territory was absent from most of the coverage. The coverage was framed in a way that implied the conflict started on October 7. The report showed how some reportage on the ongoing war failed to even mention that the West Bank is Palestinian territory occupied by Israel, and that, according to international law, Gaza has also been effectively under Israeli occupation prior to October 7 – despite the absence of a military presence on the ground since 2005. There were also many instances of apparent “mistakes” and misinformation being given a pass on British TV screens, as long as they reaffirmed Israeli narratives. In one instance, a defence analyst claimed on TV that “the West Bank is occupied by Palestinians”. Despite such a claim not having any basis in international law, or any current or historic reality on the ground, the presenter did not correct him or seek clarification. Misleading use of imagery in some newspapers is another failure identified in the analysis. For instance, distressing images depicting the flames and extensive destruction caused by Israeli air strikes on Gaza were paired with headlines referencing the atrocities committed by Hamas in Israel on October 7. In one case, a horrifying image of frightened, injured Palestinian children in Gaza was juxtaposed with a headline about “mutilated babies in Israel”. Using misleading imagery, omitting facts, allowing guests to spread misinformation without challenge and sharing unverified information as fact are examples of irresponsible and unethical journalism. And such acts could have grave consequences. Misinformation and disinformation breeds hate speech, which can result in harm being inflicted on innocent individuals. Misrepresentation of the current conflict as a “religious war” between Jews and Muslims, coupled with the dehumanisation of Palestinians and vilification of their supporters around the world as terrorists or “terrorist-adjacent” has exacerbated anti-Muslim, anti-Arab and anti-Palestinian sentiments. As a result, hate directed towards British Muslims has manifested itself on the streets and screens across the UK. According to Tell Mama, the leading hate crime monitoring agency on measuring anti-Muslim hate in the UK, between October 2023 and February 2024, there were more than 2,000 anti-Muslim hate cases in the UK – a shocking 335 percent increase compared with the same period in the previous year. Research conducted by UK NGOs More in Common and the Together Coalition since the beginning of the war in Gaza, published on March 3, highlighted the prevalence of anti-Muslim sentiment in the country. Among those who responded to the survey, 21 percent – one in five – said they have a “very negative” or “somewhat negative” view of Muslims. Media’s false labelling of pro-Palestinian protesters as “terror threats”, “pro-Hamas”, “extremists” and “opposing to British values” undoubtedly contributed to this unprecedented rise in anti-Muslim hate and prejudice in the country. Indeed, anti-Palestinian, anti-Arab and anti-Muslim sentiments many British Palestinians, Arabs and Muslims are currently faced with in their schools, universities and places of work could – at least in part – be tied to the predominantly one-sided coverage of the
Spanish prosecutors accuse Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti of tax fraud
Prosecutors have called for a prison sentence of four years and nine months for the manager for failing to declare earnings of 1 million euros. Spanish prosecutors have called for Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti to be jailed for four years and nine months for allegedly failing to declare earnings to the tax office. Prosecutors said in a statement Wednesday that they are accusing Ancelotti of two accounts of tax fraud worth 1 million euros ($1,1m). The Madrid state prosecutor’s office has accused the 64-year-old Italian of having deprived Spain’s treasury of the earnings from image rights that he did not declare in 2014 and 2015. They have accused him of allegedly setting up a “confusing” system of shell companies to hide his extra earnings. A Spanish court in July ordered Ancelotti to stand trial over the affair but no date has been set. Ancelotti coached Madrid from 2013 to 2015 before rejoining the club in 2021. Ancelotti is one of football’s most successful coaches. He is the only coach to have won the Champions League four times, twice with Madrid and twice with AC Milan, and the only coach to have won domestic league titles in England, Spain, Italy, Germany and France. Spain has cracked down on top football players who have not paid their due. Former Madrid coach Jose Mourinho received a one-year suspended sentence after reaching a guilty plea for tax fraud in 2019. Star players Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have also been found guilty of tax fraud in Spain. Adblock test (Why?)
Venezuela sets presidential polls for July amid ban on opposition candidate
Incumbent Maduro’s strongest adversary, Maria Corina Machado, was banned from public office for alleged corruption. Venezuela will hold presidential elections on July 28, the electoral authority said, with President Nicolas Maduro expected to run again – possibly without a strong challenger. The date, which was announced on Tuesday, was chosen by the ruling party-aligned National Electoral Council after Maduro’s government and the opposition agreed in the Caribbean island of Barbados in October to hold a free and fair vote in 2024 with international observers present. But in January, the country’s top court upheld a ban that prevents popular opposition presidential candidate Maria Corina Machado from running for office. Machado, a former lawmaker, won the opposition’s independently run presidential primary last October with more than 90 percent of the votes despite the government announcing a 15-year ban on her running for office just days after she formally entered the race in June. Her campaign has not commented on the election date announcement although the 56-year-old industrial engineer and longtime government foe earlier promised to stay in the race following the ban. A March 25 deadline for candidate registration could force the opposition to act. The United States, which backs some factions of the opposition coalition, reimposed sanctions on Caracas following the ban on Machado, just as the two countries started to mend ties. Washington blocked US companies from trading with the Venezuelan state mining firm Minerva in January. The OPEC member could also see recently restored oil trade agreements with the US expire on April 18 unless Machado is allowed to run. Washington initially rolled back longstanding sanctions on the country in October, conditioning relief on a prisoner swap and an electoral deal between Maduro and the opposition. Opposition members expressed doubt at the time that the president would see the pact through. In December, the US granted clemency to Alex Saab, a Colombian businessman and Maduro ally who was being held in a Miami jail awaiting trial on a charge of money laundering, in return for 10 Americans imprisoned in the South American country. Maduro, who has been in office since 2013, was re-elected to a six-year term in a 2018 vote criticised by the opposition, the US, and others as largely fraudulent. Just months after a thaw in ties between Washington and Caracas, Maduro’s government did an about-face in February, shuttering a United Nations human rights office and arresting an activist. Surveys by independent pollster Delphos in December showed that support for the president has waned slightly, with 25 percent of people saying they would vote for his ruling socialist party, down from 30 percent in the previous year. July 28 is the birthday of the late President Hugo Chavez, Maduro’s mentor and predecessor, who died in 2013. Adblock test (Why?)
When is Ramadan 2024 and how is the moon sighted?
For most countries, the first day of fasting is likely to be March 12, depending on the sighting of the new moon. The first day of fasting for the Muslim holy month of Ramadan in Mecca will be Monday, March 11 or Tuesday, March 12, depending on the sighting of the new moon. Ramadan is determined by the Islamic lunar calendar, which begins with the sighting of the crescent moon. Saudi Arabia and other Muslim-majority countries rely on the testimonies of moon sighters to determine the start of the month. How is the Ramadan moon sighted? For the moon to be visible, the crescent must set after the sun. This allows the sky to be dark enough to spot the small slither of the new moon. After the sun sets on the night of March 10, 29th of Shaaban month in the Hijri calendar, moon sighters face west with a clear view of the horizon for a first glimpse of the crescent moon. If the moon is sighted, the month of Ramadan begins, with the first fasting day being March 11. Otherwise, Shaaban will complete 30 days, and the first fasting day will be March 12. In Saudi Arabia, testimonies of people who have spotted the moon are recorded and the Supreme Court makes a decision on when Ramadan should begin. When does Ramadan begin in different countries? According to Crescent Moon Watch, a moon tracker run by the United Kingdom’s Nautical Almanac Office, Ramadan’s new moon will begin on March 10 at 17:23 GMT (8:23pm Mecca time), with no sightings of any type expected that night. On March 10, the new moon should be visible only in the Pacific, near the Hawaiian Islands and parts of French Polynesia. It is unlikely that most of the world, including the Middle East, North America and Europe, will be able to see the new crescent with the naked eye. The new moon could possibly be seen without optical aid if the skies are clear across most of the world on March 11. Telescopic sightings are likely in southern Australia, Tasmania and New Zealand. For most countries, the first day of fasting will likely be March 12. The moon phases of Ramadan Lunar months last between 29 and 30 days, depending on the sighting of the new moon on the 29th night of each month. If the new moon is not visible, the month lasts 30 days. Why is Ramadan holy? Muslims believe that Ramadan is the month in which the first verses of the Quran were revealed to the Prophet Muhammad more than 1,400 years ago. Throughout the month, observing Muslims fast from just before the sunrise prayer, Fajr, to the sunset prayer, Maghrib. The fast entails abstinence from eating, drinking, smoking, and sexual relations to achieve greater “taqwa”, or consciousness of God. Fasting is one of the five pillars of Islam, along with the Muslim declaration of faith, daily prayers, charity, and performing the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca if physically and financially capable. In many Muslim-majority countries, working hours are reduced, and most restaurants are closed during fasting hours How do you wish someone for Ramadan? Various Muslim-majority nations have a personalised greeting in their native languages. “Ramadan Mubarak” and “Ramadan Kareem” are common greetings exchanged in this period, wishing the recipient a blessed and generous month, respectively. When is Eid al-Fitr? At the end of Ramadan, Muslims celebrate Eid al-Fitr. In Arabic, it means “festival of breaking the fast”. Depending on the new moon sighting, Eid al-Fitr, which lasts three days, will likely start on April 10 or 11. Adblock test (Why?)
Chinese coast guard ship blasts water cannon at Philippine vessel
NewsFeed Video shows a Chinese coast guard ship blasting a water cannon through the window of a civilian Philippine vessel in disputed waters in the South China Sea, where the two countries have been involved in several incidents in recent months. Published On 6 Mar 20246 Mar 2024 Adblock test (Why?)
What has caused security to deteriorate in Haiti?
State of emergency declared after unrest worsens and thousands of prisoners break out of jail. Haiti’s director of National Police has warned the capital is at war. Port-au-Prince has been overrun by gangs. A state of emergency has been declared after gang members attacked two prisons over the weekend – freeing several thousand prisoners. The security situation worsened after President Jovenel Moise was assassinated three years ago. For months, protesters have been calling for Prime Minister Ariel Henry to step down. They are angry about delayed elections, the rising cost of living and insecurity. The United Nations says the violence has forced 300,000 people from their homes this year. The foreign minister has likened Haiti to a warzone. To help restore order, the UN has proposed sending a multinational force. So what has led to this crisis? And is international intervention the way to resolve it? Presenter: Jonah Hull Guests: Francois Guillaume – Haitian ambassador to Qatar Erwan de Cherisey – Principal, Janes defence intelligence company Vanda Felbab-Brown – Director of initiative on non-state armed actors at the Brookings Institution Ralph Emmanuel Francois – Haitian social entrepreneur and activist Adblock test (Why?)
Children are dying of malnutrition in Gaza
NewsFeed Gaza’s Health Ministry says that 15 children have died of malnutrition in a single hospital in northern Gaza, in recent days. Published On 5 Mar 20245 Mar 2024 Adblock test (Why?)
Gaza ceasefire talks fail to make breakthrough with Ramadan approaching
Three days of negotiations end at an impasse, as Hamas and Israel insist the other give in to their demands. Three days of negotiations with Hamas over a ceasefire in Gaza have failed to achieve a breakthrough, less than a week before the start of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan – the informal deadline for a deal. The United States, Qatar and Egypt have spent weeks trying to broker an agreement in which Hamas would release Israeli captives in return for a six-week ceasefire, the release of some Palestinian prisoners and more aid to Gaza. Al Jazeera’s Hamdah Salhut said on Tuesday that the latest round of talks in Cairo, Egypt, has “ended with a standstill” and that it was unclear what would happen next. “The Israelis say they are waiting for Hamas’s response, while Hamas says they are awaiting for Israel’s response,” she said, reporting from occupied East Jerusalem “Mediators in the middle are trying to bridge these gaps trying to find a solution between both sides, but it seems that there are sticking points that just can’t seem to be resolved.” Hamas has refused to release all of the estimated 100 hostages it holds, and the remains of about 30 more, unless Israel ends its offensive, withdraws from Gaza and releases a large number of Palestinian prisoners, including fighters serving life sentences. Senior Hamas official Osama Hamdan said on Tuesday that his group wants a permanent ceasefire, rather than a six-week pause, and a “complete withdrawal” of Israeli forces. “The security and safety of our people will be achieved only by a permanent ceasefire, the end of the aggression and the withdrawal from every inch of the Gaza Strip,” Hamdan told reporters in Beirut. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has publicly rejected those demands and repeatedly pledged to continue the war until Hamas is dismantled and all the captives are returned. Israel did not send a delegation to the latest round of talks. Meanwhile, Israel wants Hamas to hand over a list of captives who are alive, as well as the captive-to-prisoner ratio it seeks in any release deal. Senior Hamas leader Bassem Naim told the AFP news agency on Monday that the group did not know “who among [the captives] are alive or dead, killed because of strikes or hunger”, and that the captives were being held by numerous groups in multiple places. “So there are two completely different perspectives and two different sticking points here on what the other side is not willing to compromise on,” Salhut said. At US-Qatar Strategic Dialogue talks on Tuesday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken urged Hamas to accept the ceasefire plan. “It is on Hamas to make decisions about whether it is prepared to engage in that ceasefire,” the top US diplomat said as he met Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani in Washington, DC, in the US. “Qatar, the United States and our partners will be always persistent to make sure that this deal happens,” said Al Thani, standing next to Blinken. With the latest round of discussions having come to an end, Hamas has presented a proposal that mediators will discuss with Israel in the coming days, two Egyptian officials said, according to The Associated Press news agency. At least 1,139 people were killed and about 250 captives were taken in Hamas-led attacks on southern Israel on October 7. More than 100 captives were released during a weeklong ceasefire in November. Israel’s retaliatory offensive on Gaza has killed more than 30,000 people, mostly women and children, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. The nearly five months of fighting have left much of Gaza in ruins and created a worsening humanitarian catastrophe, with many, especially in the devastated northern region, scrambling for food to survive. Adblock test (Why?)
Wyclef Jean sings Haiti’s prime minister ‘Ariel’s gotta go’’
NewsFeed Haitian musician Wyclef Jean is joining calls for the removal of Haiti’s prime minister from office following increasing violence in the country. The Grammy award winning artist shared his message in a song that he sang for Al Jazeera. Published On 5 Mar 20245 Mar 2024 Adblock test (Why?)
Photos: Israel bombs mosque, hitting families sheltering nearby
Deir el-Balah, Gaza – At dawn on Saturday, Israeli aircraft bombed a mosque next to makeshift tents housing displaced people in the city of Deir el-Balah in the central Gaza Strip. The bombing resulted in the killing of a young woman and left 20 others injured. They were transferred to the city’s Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital. The 33-year-old woman, Walaa Saada, was known for her community and humanitarian efforts during the war. She was killed in her tent while she was sleeping next to her mother, Yosra Abu Saada, who was injured in the attack. “My daughter Walaa and I had dinner together before I went to bed.” Yosra told Al Jazeera. “Walaa stayed awake working on some lists of displaced people in need on her laptop.” Suddenly, Yosra woke up to piles of stones raining down on her from the bombing, while dust covered their surroundings and their tent collapsed on them. “I did not realise what was happening around me. I thought I was dreaming, but I controlled myself and started calling my daughter Walaa, but she did not answer.” “People and paramedics rushed to our aid. I was desperately calling out for Walaa until I saw her lifeless body lying on the ground, soaked in her own blood,” Yosra said while crying. In a nearby tent, 60-year-old Mahmoud Saadeh and his family were asleep before finding themselves thrown to the ground by the explosion. “I woke up and found myself far away [from our tent] with my family members. Everyone was screaming and the children were screaming,” Mahmoud says. “The mosque’s rubble had flattened our tents completely.” Suffering severe chest injuries, Mahmoud received limited medical attention at the hospital due to shortages of supplies and resources. “The medical staff were overwhelmed. Some nurses attended to us with what little they had. But resources were scarce, so we left.” “As you can see, our tents were completely burned and we lost all of our things that we fled with from one area to another. Now, we do not know where we will go.” The displaced in Deir el-Balah have come from all over Gaza, forced to flee under Israeli attack. The Gaza Health Ministry reports that more than 30,000 people have been killed in Israel’s war on Gaza, and international condemnation of Israel’s targeting of civilian areas has been growing as the war persists. Adblock test (Why?)