The role of the media in impacting public perception of the Israel-Hamas conflict

By Temi Olorode - Nigeria

The proverb “The first casualty when war comes is truth” remains as relevant today as it did when it was initially said by the U.S. Senator Hiram Johnson over a century ago (Cheng).

The ongoing conflict in the Middle East has become the topic of many conversations, headline of thousands of news outlets and subject of countless political debates. Whether they are from the UK, the United States, or even have a close connection to the countries involved, everyone seems to have an opinion on these distressing events. However, with the increasing importance of media in our digital age, societal views can be altered as quickly as they are developed. Whether through social media platforms or news outlets, the media serves as a potent force in shaping collective understanding. However, through the selective presentation of information, framing of narratives and the influence of visual and auditory elements, harmful effects are evident, such as the increase in misinformation and bias. In such a raw and painful conflict as the Israel-Palestine conflict is, it is important to be able to identify these forms of media polarisation, in order to prevent ourselves from being influenced by it.

What is Hamas?

Hamas is an Islamist militant movement and the governing body of the Gaza Strip. ("What Is Happening in Israel and Gaza, and What Is Hamas?") It was founded in 1987, during The First Intifada, an uprising against Israel’s occupation of the West Bank and Gaza. They have ruled the Gaza Strip since 2007, having sworn to destroy Israel and replace it with an Islamic state. Dozens of countries (including the United States and members of the European Union) have designated Hamas a terrorist organisation - though in some cases this label is only applied to its military wing. Despite this, Hamas winning the democratic election showed that it received support from the majority of the Israeli population: this was due to the belief that it was less corrupt than the PA (Palestinian Authority), as well as support for the resistance movement against Israeli occupation. However, Palestinian views on Hamas are constantly changing, as a survey by The Washington Institute in October 2023 showed that most Gazans expressed a preference for PA administration and security officials over Hamas (Cleveland and Pollock). [It is important to note that the depth of support for Hamas amongst five million Palestinians in the West Banks and Gaza is almost impossible to measure].

At the break of dawn on the 7th of October, 2023, Hamas operators based in Gaza launched an attack on a region in southern Israel that has seen more wars than any other in history. Using a massive barrage of thousands of rockets as well as technology, they broke through the heavily protected border into Israel - sending gunmen into Israeli territory. Hamas took more than 150 people hostage: both civilians, soldiers and foreigners visiting Israel ("The Israel-Palestine Conflict: A Brief, Simple History"). The violence amounted to a death toll of over 1,400 people (Robinson).

In response to the Hamas attacks, Israel declared war on the Gaza Strip, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowing on that day that Hamas would “pay an unprecedented price”. A very decisive statement ("Israel's Netanyahu Vows to Exact a 'huge Price' in Response to Deadly Hamas Infiltrations").

A brief background

The Israel-Hamas conflict is a longstanding geopolitical struggle, rooted in historical, religious and territorial tension. Hamas, like many groups in the Middle East, is resentful of the creation of Israel after the Second World War, something promoted largely by Western powers. Hamas believes that the territory was effectively stolen from the Palestinian people, who they believe are the rightful owners and occupiers. “Nakba” or “catastrophe” refers to the forced removal of an estimated 750,000 Palestinians from their homes when Israel was founded in 1948. Palestinians see it as a core element of their identity ("A Brief History of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict Explained in Fewer than 300 Words"). Many in Israel have a different perspective on this period. Following the Holocaust, hundreds of thousands of Jews fled to the newly established State of Israel for their own safety, as they had been immigrating to territories in the Ottoman Empire for decades.

Israel fought multiple wars in the decades that followed its founding and eventually took control of Gaza and the West Bank - defying a 1947 UN designation.

While Israel pulled out of Gaza in 2005, it continues to control East Jerusalem and most of the West Bank - named so because of its position to the west of the River Jordan.

Israel has established numerous Jewish settlements throughout the territory, which the UN Security Council has previously criticised as a “flagrant violation of international law”.

The Gaza Strip is currently in Hamas’ partial control, but is under significant restrictions of movement from Israel.

Media Influence: Fact or Fiction?

Following the recent eruption of the violence, a second almost imperceptible battle has emerged online. Fake news and misinformation are being disseminated by both sides. Old images are being passed off as new. Scenes from video games are shown as reality. Credible news outlets like the New York Times have faced backlash over incomplete reporting.

Media polarisation on the Israel-Hamas conflict is highly significant because it can shape people’s perceptions of the conflict and influence their opinions and actions (Cheng). A common approach many media outlets and users take to this conflict is taking sides, with pro-Israel voices accusing Palestinians of faking injuries and pro-Palestine voices spotlighting hospital voices to paint Israel as evil. This can lead to a situation where only certain perspectives are represented in the media, leading to a lack of diversity of opinion.

Misinformation and disinformation have spread through social media, confusing people and shaping their perceptions of the conflict. For instance, one video of a woman claiming to be a former soldier on the Gaza Strip sparked rumours of Israel’s government aiding Hamas’ entry into the area. This video rapidly spread through the internet, spreading an almost hyperbolic claim that is yet to be proven (Kladias). With the easy spread of false information in this age, it is crucial to adopt a critical mindset, enabling one to discern facts from potentially unreliable sources.

The role of Artificial Intelligence

The weaponization of AI is distorting the facts in the Israel-Hamas conflict. As revealed by Reuters, a news agency company, several viral images appearing to show support for Palestinians or Israelis were actually AI generated fakes (Mann).

Other deceptive AI illustrations are being used to garner sympathy for either Gazans or Israelis, or suggest the resilience and solidarity of either group. AI-spawned images have conjured up fake crowds of Israelis marching through the street, waving flags and cheering from the windows of buildings in huge numbers, presumably in support of their government. One image apparently shared by a “Wartime Media” Telegram channel shows an Israeli refugee camp that never existed. Below are some AI generated images shown in Adobe’s stock image service.

Though many authentic, heart-rending photos and videos have come out from both sides as Israel continues to rain bombs on the region, various pictures making the rounds are actually AI creations that play on the emotions of viewers by placing children in dire circumstances.

And this is only the tip of the iceberg, as advanced “deepfake” technology has enabled the creation of fabricated audios: such as a video of U.S. President Joe Biden proclaiming he would send troops to air Israel. This was a doctored White House news release which was posted online, falsely claiming that the Biden administration has authorised $8 billion in emergency aid to Israel on Saturday 7th of October. Even after it was discovered to be a hoax, it continued to circulate online and top Google search results.

In an already polarised conflict, these digital deceptions run the risk of escalating tensions by casting doubt over reality itself.

Conclusion

In times of conflict, media polarisation becomes a potent force that both reflects and intensifies social divisions. The amplification of varying perspectives through various media outlets not only deepens existing ideological rifts but also stimulates an environment where information is often weaponized to serve specific narratives. As we navigate the complex landscape of media during wartime, it is crucial for society to seek diverse sources of information, in order to foster a more nuanced understanding of the intricate realities that unfold in times of crises.

Bibliography

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"What Is Happening in Israel and Gaza, and What Is Hamas?" BBC, 11 Nov. 2023, www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-67039975. Accessed 13 Nov. 2023.

Cleveland, Catherine, and David Pollock. "Polls Show Majority of Gazans Were Against Breaking Ceasefire; Hamas and Hezbollah Unpopular Among Key Arab Publics." Washington Institute, 10 Oct. 2023, www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/polls-show-majority-gazans-were-against-breaking-ceasefire-hamas-and-hezbollah. Accessed 13 Nov. 2023.

"The Israel-Palestine Conflict: A Brief, Simple History." Youtube, uploaded by Vox, 20 Jan. 2016, www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRYZjOuUnlU.

Robinson, Kali. "What Is Hamas?" Council on Foreign Relations, 31 Oct. 2023, www.cfr.org/backgrounder/what-hamas. Accessed 13 Nov. 2023.

"Israel's Netanyahu Vows to Exact a 'huge Price' in Response to Deadly Hamas Infiltrations." The Economic Times, 7 Oct. 2023, economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/israel-declares-state-of-readiness-for-war-after-massive-rockets-infiltration-in-its-southern-area/articleshow/104233065.cms. Accessed 13 Nov. 2023.

"A Brief History of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict Explained in Fewer than 300 Words." Sky News, 3 Nov. 2023, news.sky.com/story/a-brief-history-of-the-israeli-palestinian-conflict-explained-in-less-than-300-words-12997971. Accessed 13 Nov. 2023.

Kladias , Antonia . "Social Media Fuels Misinformation, Polarization about Israel-Palestine Conflict." Pipe Dream, 30 Nov. 2023, www.bupipedream.com/opinions/142720/antonia-kladias/. Accessed 13 Nov. 2023.

Mann, Yuval. "Draw Me a War: How AI Fakes Israel's War against Hamas." Ynet News, 9 Nov. 2023, www.ynetnews.com/business/article/s1aj0b5qa. Accessed 13 Nov. 2023.