In a report released on December 5, Amnesty International stated that Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, citing extensive evidence gathered by the organization. The report, titled "You Feel Like You Are Subhuman: Israel’s Genocide Against Palestinians in Gaza," documents the devastating impact of Israeli military operations since October 7, 2023. The findings detail a combination of killings, starvation, forced displacement, and deliberate destruction of infrastructure.
The report claims the Israeli offensive has killed over 42,000 Palestinians, including 13,300 children, and injured more than 97,000 others. Entire cities, including hospitals and water networks, have been destroyed. A full blockade has blocked the entry of electricity, water, and fuel, leading to widespread hunger and disease, particularly among children and pregnant women. Approximately 1.9 million Palestinians have been forcibly displaced, leaving them homeless under dire conditions.
Amnesty International documented statements from 102 Israeli officials, including high-ranking leaders, that incited or justified genocide, with some calling for "wiping out Gaza." Evidence, including satellite images, videos, and eyewitness accounts, suggests that Israeli attacks have deliberately targeted civilians, demonstrating a clear intent to destroy Palestinians as a group. The report concludes this constitutes genocide under international law.
In its investigation, Amnesty relied on interviews with 212 individuals, analysis of visual evidence and satellite data, and official statements by Israeli officials. The organization refuted Israeli claims that the operations targeted Hamas or other armed groups, asserting that the majority of casualties were civilians. The scale of destruction was deemed excessive and disproportionate to any military objective, with policies clearly aimed at annihilating Palestinians amid apartheid, an illegal blockade, and prolonged occupation.
Amnesty International urged the international community to take immediate action to halt the genocide, including imposing sanctions on Israeli officials and prosecuting them at the International Criminal Court (ICC). The organization also called for accountability for Hamas regarding the events of October 7, 2023.
The report criticized the international community’s failure to address Israeli atrocities, describing this inaction as a significant collective failure. It called for sustained global efforts to ensure justice and stop the ongoing genocide. Additionally, it urged the ICC to expedite its investigations and consider including genocide charges in the cases under review.
Media Bias in Coverage of Amnesty International’s Report
Following the release of Amnesty International’s report, international media coverage showed a clear bias in favor of the Israeli narrative. Through selective language, the use of carefully chosen sources, and the omission of key evidence, media outlets downplayed the report’s findings while reinforcing Israel’s position.
Fox News Questions Amnesty International’s Credibility
In its coverage of Amnesty International's report, Fox News showed clear bias toward the Israeli perspective by using selective language, choosing specific sources, and misrepresenting the report’s content. The network framed its narrative to undermine the organization’s credibility while portraying Israel as acting in "self-defense."
The coverage called the report "poorly researched and highly politicized," citing opinions from figures like Orde Kittrie and David Adesnik, both affiliated with pro-Israel institutions such as the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. These commentators argued that the report misuses the term "genocide," claiming that Israeli policies do not meet its legal definition.
Rather than analyzing the field evidence cited in the report, Fox News focused on attacking Amnesty International, accusing it of double standards for failing to label crises in places like Sudan and Xinjiang as genocides.
The coverage also ignored the devastating humanitarian conditions in Gaza highlighted in the report, such as the blockade and the denial of essential supplies. Instead, it emphasized the number of aid trucks entering Gaza to justify Israeli actions. Moreover, no neutral or supportive voices in favor of Amnesty International's findings were included, resulting in a one-sided and biased presentation.
New York Post: Prejudice and Discrediting Amnesty International
The New York Post began its coverage with a combative assertion, describing Amnesty International as having "a long history of anti-Israel bias." In the article, the newspaper used inflammatory terms such as "fabricated" and "based on a political agenda" to criticize the report, focusing on attacking the organization rather than engaging with the evidence presented.
The coverage primarily highlighted statements from Israeli officials who described their military actions as "precise responses to Hamas terrorists," while ignoring U.N.-verified testimonies and reports documenting the targeting of civilians. Furthermore, the article omitted critical statistics on civilian casualties and the extent of destruction.
The newspaper relied on sources such as Eugene Kontorovich, known for his strong pro-Israel stance, and excluded any neutral voices, leading to a one-sided and biased portrayal of the report.
Sky News: Marginalizing Evidence and Supporting the Israeli Narrative
Although Sky News briefly mentioned some of the report’s findings, it devoted more space to amplifying Israel’s narrative, sidelining the Palestinian context and evidence supporting claims of genocide.
The network presented lengthy statements from an Israeli government spokesperson who dismissed the report as "part of an anti-Israel campaign" and "a repetition of past allegations."
Amnesty International’s report received only a cursory mention, with its field evidence left largely unexplored. Additionally, Sky News replaced Amnesty’s description of Hamas’ October 7 attack as "deadly" with the term "terrorist," reflecting a clear bias in framing the event to align with Israel’s perspective, which consistently labels Hamas as a terrorist organization.
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