Failing Gaza: Pro-Israel bias uncovered behind the lens of western media
Journalists from CNN and the BBC have come forward, revealing internal bias in their networks’ coverage of the Israel-Palestine conflict, particularly since October 7, 2023.
Ten journalists, who worked on covering the war in Gaza, accused their newsrooms of pro-Israel bias, systematic double standards, and frequent violations of journalistic principles. These allegations were shared in Al Jazeera’s documentary Failing Gaza: Behind the Lens of Western Media.
One CNN journalist, identified as “Adam,” expressed how his trust in the network’s practices was shaken after October 7. He described incidents where Israeli narratives were broadcast unchallenged. A specific case involved CNN International Diplomatic Editor Nic Robertson, who reported claims by the Israeli military that Hamas had used the al-Rantisi Children’s Hospital to hide captives. The report aired despite internal warnings that the document shown as proof was not a Hamas roster but an Arabic calendar. The misinformation was broadcast, and no evidence of captives at the hospital was ever found.
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CNN journalists also stated that for a period, they were not allowed to describe airstrikes in Gaza as such without Israeli confirmation. When Gaza health officials announced a death toll of over 40,000 people due to Israeli attacks, CNN’s coverage framed the news with additional emphasis on holding Hamas accountable, as directed by Managing Editor Mike McCarthy.
At the BBC, similar concerns were raised. “Sara,” a former BBC journalist, accused the network of disproportionately vetting Palestinian interviewees while giving Israeli spokespersons free rein during broadcasts. One notable example occurred when Israeli politician Idan Roll claimed on air that “babies were set on fire” during a Hamas attack, a statement that was neither challenged nor proven. Sara described the imbalance in how Palestinian and Israeli perspectives were treated in editorial decisions.
Both CNN and the BBC have denied the allegations of bias. However, these claims come at a time when experts and former journalists argue that Western media’s coverage has contributed to dehumanizing Palestinians and minimizing their suffering in the ongoing conflict.
Veteran journalist Craig Mokhiber, who resigned from the United Nations over its response to the war, said that Western media has become “part of the mechanism of genocide,” aligning with Western governments’ complicity in the conflict.
This exposé sheds light on the internal struggles within Western media networks, as some journalists have resigned or attempted to challenge the bias from within.
