According to journalist Matthew Petti's number crunching, 31% of English-speaking media have been using the phrase "Hamas-led Health Ministry" since Oct. 17. Before that day, only 7% were using such a phrase. What happened? Petti points to the Oct. 17 explosion at the Al-Ahli hospital in Gaza, the perpetrator of which has not been independently confirmed. He said civilian casualty counts were not only second-guessed by the Biden administration but questioned because the ministry was "Hamas run." Repeating this led to the Western media pick-up of the phrase. Not only does linking the ministry and its data to the militant group delegitimize both, it serves a broader insidious narrative that Gazans and Palestinians are Hamas, which serves Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu's interests in justifying the relentless bombing of civilians. Petti talks to Kelley and Daniel about this and the broader responsibility of the Western media in the coverage and interpretation of these complex issues on the ground today.
More from Matt Petti:
Media amplified US, Israeli narrative on Palestinian deaths, Responsible Statecraft, 11/20/23
The international pressure on Israel that really matters comes from the Middle East, Analyst News, 10/19/23
Why does Egypt fear evacuating Gaza? Responsible Statecraft, 10/13/23
America's Broken, Lurid View of Foreign Wars, Reason magazine, 10/12/23
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