Is the world blind, biased, or just willfully ignorant when it comes to Israel? The media’s treatment of Israel is nothing short of a masterclass in double standards, and the hypocrisy is glaring. This has been a decades-long issue, but it reached new lows in the aftermath of Hamas’s barbaric October 7th attack on Israeli civilians.
October 7th: A Day of Horror, A Test of Honesty
On October 7th, 2023, Hamas terrorists launched an unprecedented assault on Israel. Over 1,200 Israelis were murdered in their homes, at a music festival, and even in safe rooms. Women were raped, children were burned alive, and elderly Holocaust survivors were dragged from their wheelchairs and taken hostage into Gaza. The sheer barbarity of these acts should have shocked the conscience of the world. Instead, much of the media responded with a troubling neutrality—or worse, sympathy for the perpetrators.
For instance, major outlets initially framed the attack as “clashes” or “violence breaks out.” The word “terrorist” was conspicuously absent from many headlines. Imagine the outrage if similar atrocities had been committed against civilians in Europe or the United States. Would journalists hesitate to call out such acts for what they are? Yet, when it’s Jews being slaughtered in their homeland, the language suddenly softens.
Even after Israel responded militarily, these same outlets shifted focus. The narrative quickly moved from the attack on Israelis to the “humanitarian crisis in Gaza.” Context was lost. The fact that Hamas uses civilians as human shields, embeds weapons in schools, and diverts aid for terrorism was barely mentioned.
Gaza Hospital Explosion: A Case Study in Media Irresponsibility
Perhaps the most damning example of the media’s bias came just a week after the attack. On October 17th, an explosion rocked the Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital in Gaza. Before facts were even verified, Al Jazeera, The New York Times, Reuters, and others uncritically parroted Hamas’s claim that Israel had bombed the hospital, killing hundreds.
The truth? Israeli and U.S. intelligence later confirmed that the explosion was caused by a failed rocket launch by Palestinian Islamic Jihad. Satellite imagery showed minimal damage, and reports indicated the death toll was grossly inflated. Yet the damage was done. Headlines and social media posts blaming Israel spread like wildfire, sparking protests and violence worldwide.
Imagine if a terrorist organization made an unsubstantiated claim against a Western nation. Would reputable outlets immediately accept their word as gospel? Of course not. But when Hamas accuses Israel, the media abandons all journalistic standards.
The Selective Outrage of “Proportionality”
Another favorite weapon in the media’s arsenal is the accusation of disproportionate force. When Israel defends itself, it is endlessly scrutinized for the scale of its response. But where was this concern for proportionality when 1,200 Israelis were murdered? Why is the death of an Israeli civilian treated as an unfortunate consequence of conflict, while the death of a Gazan civilian is wielded as a weapon to condemn Israel? The double standard is glaring.
During the same October 7th war, the media continually highlighted Gaza’s death toll without acknowledging Hamas’s role in inflating numbers or hiding its military assets among civilians. And let’s not forget that while journalists camp out in Gaza, reporting every detail, how many stories have you seen about Hamas’s rockets falling on their own people? How many stories about the billions of dollars funneled into Gaza that could have been used for schools and hospitals but were instead spent on terror tunnels and missiles?
Historical Context: The Pattern Repeats Itself
This isn’t new. In 2014, during Operation Protective Edge, Israel faced similar accusations of disproportionate force after Hamas launched thousands of rockets into civilian areas. The media breathlessly covered the destruction in Gaza while ignoring key details, such as Hamas’s use of human shields. In 2002, during the Battle of Jenin, headlines falsely accused Israel of a “massacre” after a counter-terror operation. Years later, investigations confirmed that there was no massacre—Israel had acted with extraordinary care to avoid civilian casualties. But by then, the damage to Israel’s reputation was done.
The Media’s Obsession with Delegitimizing Israel
Let’s face it: much of the media operates from a worldview where Israel is the aggressor and the Palestinians are perpetual victims. This narrative sells, but it ignores reality. Israel is a democratic state surrounded by enemies who openly call for its destruction. It has made countless attempts at peace, often met with more violence. Yet these facts are conveniently ignored or downplayed.
The Bible says, “The Lord detests dishonest scales, but accurate weights find favor with him” (Proverbs 11:1). When it comes to Israel, the media uses anything but honest scales. Instead of seeking truth, they amplify lies and distortions, fueling anti-Semitism and violence around the world.
What Needs to Change
The media must be held accountable. Truth matters. Words matter. If journalists cannot bring themselves to report fairly on Israel, they should find another job. They owe their audiences—and the victims of terrorism—better.
For readers, it’s time to be discerning. Don’t take headlines at face value. Dig deeper. Seek out sources that prioritize facts over narratives. And most importantly, stand with Israel. The fight against media bias is part of a larger battle for truth, justice, and the survival of a free people in their ancient homeland.
The Hope Amidst the Bias
Despite the overwhelming bias, Israel stands strong. Her people are resilient, her values are enduring, and her cause is just. The world may distort the truth, but it cannot erase the facts: Israel is here to stay.
For every slanted headline, there are millions of us who see through the lies. We are the truth-tellers, the defenders, and the witnesses. We are the hope that ensures the Jewish people will never again be silent in the face of hatred. And that, my friends, is why Israel will prevail.
During the late 1980s I addressed the Hillel group at Syracuse University about this exact same topic.
Things have only become worse.