Al Jazeera Journalism Review

Critique of German media's handling of Gaza Conflict

For the majority of German media outlets covering the war on Gaza, their news narrative begins with what the Israeli army announces. It does not necessarily end with the statements of other parties, even if they come from the United Nations or other entities critical of Israeli propaganda. This trend is particularly pronounced when it comes to breaking news reported by television, radio, and newspapers.

Rarely does the news reflect what Hamas says about the humanitarian situation in Gaza when it comes from the government of Hamas and its civil entities. Additionally, it is rare for the news to include any response from Hamas to Israeli allegations regarding military affairs and the situation of the fighting inside Gaza. If mentioned at all, the response is usually minimal compared to the space given to Israel, making German media outlets generally echo Israeli propaganda and treat it as sacred.

Public channels are engaged in bias

One notable example is the link to live coverage provided by "Tagesschau," a part of the public media group "ARD." This link, posted on the "X" platform (formerly Twitter), features an unchanging image of the Israeli flag since the beginning of the war on October 7th. The website management repeatedly shares this link on the "X" platform without updating the image. This aligns with the official German stance, which fully supports Israel to the extent that German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, in contrast to most countries worldwide, insists on refusing a ceasefire in Gaza.

The website relentlessly criticizes Hamas and describes what it says as "propaganda." However, it is rare to find any criticism of Israel on the website, despite the thousands of casualties in the Israeli bombardment of Gaza. Even when criticism is presented, it is often attributed to other parties, such as Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan or the United Nations, while ensuring Israel's right to respond.

And when it comes to the coverage of Hamas responses on the website, it is usually to vilify them. In an article titled "Hamas in Lebanon: Where Propaganda and Lies Find Plenty of Echo", German journalist accuses Hamas of controlling public discourse in Middle Eastern media. He writes in his report: "One of the most intolerable things in these evil times is that the grotesque distortion of facts, propaganda, and lies finds a stunning response in the Arab world."

The website accuses Hamas of spreading lies and propaganda, while there is little to no critical evaluation of Israeli actions, despite the alarming number of civilian casualties in the Israeli bombings in Gaza. Additionally, a quick mention of any such criticism of Israel is made alongside an extensive mention of Israel's narrative, further highlighting the bias and unbalanced reporting in German media.

This reporting disparity is especially evident when it comes to giving space to representatives from each side. While Israeli officials are given ample opportunities to speak fully in German public channels, including Israeli army officials, the Palestinian side is scarcely represented, even if they are officials from the Palestinian Authority. 

Torsten Menke, a philosophy professor at Northwestern University in Qatar, shared a video from the second German television channel, ZDF, belonging to the public broadcasting corporation, which featured a spokesperson from the Israeli army. Menke said, "The channel interviews a spokesperson for an army that commits war crimes without critical evaluation or consultation with international law experts and without considering the need to protect civilians according to the Geneva Conventions."

While the Israeli side is granted full opportunities to speak, the channel recently hosted Leith Arafa, the representative of the Palestinian Authority in Berlin, with a segment titled "The Palestinian Ambassador... No Condemnation of Hamas?" The entire interview focused on the necessity for the ambassador to condemn Hamas, despite the interview taking place on November 13, well after the number of martyrs in Gaza had exceeded 11,000 due to Israeli airstrikes.

2
The Palestinian ambassador interview titled "No condemnation of Hamas?" on ZDF. 

The reporter for ZDF, the most-watched channel in Germany, covers the events in Gaza through embedding with the Israeli military. Most German media outlets no longer have reporters inside Gaza; instead, they report events in Gaza and the occupied West Bank from their offices in Tel Aviv.

The reporter does not hide her bias in favor of the Israeli narrative, as she recently shared a tweet containing an article accusing German leftists who support the Palestinian cause of "glorifying Hamas terrorism as a form of resistance against imperialism." The article features Germans wearing Palestinian kufiya scarves, which is a symbol of the Palestinian cause.

Permissible Racism Against Arabs

One article that sparked controversy was a column written by a German journalist, Jan Fleischhauer, known for his racist views, published on the Focus website. The article was titled, "Jews or Aggressive Arabs... We Need to Decide Which Ones We Want to Keep."

The article included the statement, "I haven't seen any opinion polls yet on how Germans feel about 'Free Palestine' demonstrations, but I doubt that if they saw what young people who climbed a fountain in Berlin to raise their flag (the Palestinian flag) did, some Germans would say to themselves, 'We have nothing to do with them'.

2
The first image (left) shows the original article that was published by Focus Magazine, the other image is an auto-translated via Google translate. 

Even some newspapers that were considered reputable have now openly sided with Israel and sought to defend it against criticisms. One such newspaper is 'Zeit,' which recently published an analysis titled 'Who Commits War Crimes in Gaza?'

In the introduction to the article, it was stated that in 'exceptional cases, attacks on civilian targets are justified.' In presenting the report on the 'X' platform, the newspaper chose this paragraph: 'Does Israel violate international law in Gaza? No, say legal experts; even hospitals can be attacked if they are misused by militants.'

Meanwhile, German media outlets that traditionally support Israel are experiencing a state of hysteria, including BILD newspaper, which went so far as to mislead the public about supporters of Palestine during a demonstration. The newspaper falsely accused them of raising the slogan 'Bomb Israel,' when, in fact, the original slogan was 'Germany funds... and Israel bombs.' The newspaper equated ordinary slogans like 'Free Palestine' with hate speech."

 

The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the editorial stance of Al Jazeera Journalism Review.

 

More Articles

How Does Misinformation Undermine Public Trust in Journalism?

Reports reveal a growing loss of trust in the media, driven by the extent of misinformation that undermines professional journalism's ability to influence public discourse. The platforms of misinformation, now supported by states and private entities during conflicts and wars, threaten to strip the profession of its core roles of accountability and oversight.

Muhammad Khamaiseh 1
Muhammad Khamaiseh Published on: 13 Nov, 2024
Challenging the Narrative: Jeremy Scahill on the Need for Adversarial Journalism

Investigative journalist Jeremy Scahill calls for a revival of "adversarial journalism" to reinstate crucial professional and humanitarian values in mainstream Western media, especially regarding the coverage of the Gaza genocide.

Mohammad Zeidan
Mohammad Zeidan Published on: 10 Nov, 2024
Freedom of the Press in Jordan and Unconstitutional Interpretations

Since the approval of the Cybercrime Law in Jordan, freedom of opinion and expression has entered a troubling phase marked by the arrest of journalists and restrictions on media. Musab Shawabkeh offers a constitutional reading based on interpretations and rulings that uphold freedom of expression in a context where the country needs diverse opinions in the face of the Israeli ultra right wing politics.

Musab Shawabkeh
Musab Al Shawabkeh Published on: 8 Nov, 2024
Voting in a Time of Genocide

The upcoming U.S. presidential election occurs against the backdrop of the ongoing genocide in Gaza, with AJ Plus prioritising marginalised voices and critically analysing Western mainstream media narratives while highlighting the undemocratic aspects of the U.S. electoral system.

Tony Karon Published on: 22 Oct, 2024
Journalists Should Not Embrace the Artificial Intelligence Hype

What factors should journalists take into account while discussing the use of AI in the media?

Jorge Sagastume Muralles
Jorge Sagastume Published on: 16 Oct, 2024
A Year of Genocide and Bias: Western Media's Whitewashing of Israel's Ongoing War on Gaza

Major Western media outlets continue to prove that they are a party in the war of narratives, siding with the Israeli occupation. The article explains how these major Western media outlets are still refining their techniques of bias in favor of the occupation, even a year after the genocide in Palestine.

Mohammad Zeidan
Mohammad Zeidan Published on: 9 Oct, 2024
A Half-Truth is a Full Lie

Misinformation is rampant in modern conflicts, worsened by the internet and social media, where false news spreads easily. While news agencies aim to provide unbiased, fact-based reporting, their focus on brevity and hard facts often lacks the necessary context, leaving the public vulnerable to manipulation and unable to fully grasp the complexities of these issues.

Ilya
Ilya U Topper Published on: 30 Sep, 2024
Testimonies of the First Witness of the Sabra & Shatila Massacre

The Sabra and Shatila massacre in 1982 saw over 3,000 unarmed Palestinian refugees brutally killed by Phalangist militias under the facilitation of Israeli forces. As the first journalist to enter the camps, Japanese journalist Ryuichi Hirokawa provides a harrowing first-hand account of the atrocity amid a media blackout. His testimony highlights the power of bearing witness to a war crime and contrasts the past Israeli public outcry with today’s silence over the ongoing genocide in Gaza.

Mei Shigenobu مي شيغينوبو
Mei Shigenobu Published on: 18 Sep, 2024
Anonymous Sources in the New York Times... Covering the War with One Eye

The use of anonymous sources in journalism is considered, within professional and ethical standards, a “last option” for journalists. However, analysis of New York Times data reveals a persistent pattern in the use of “anonymity” to support specific narratives, especially Israeli narratives.

Mohammad Zeidan
Mohammad Zeidan Published on: 8 Sep, 2024
India and Pakistan; Journalists building Bridges for Understanding

Amid decades of tension, journalists from India and Pakistan are uniting to combat hostile narratives and highlight shared challenges. Through collaboration, they’re fostering understanding on pressing issues like climate change and healthcare, proving that empathy can transcend borders. Discover how initiatives like the Journalists' Exchange Programme are paving the way for peace journalism and a more nuanced narrative.

Safina
Safina Nabi Published on: 12 Aug, 2024
From TV Screens to YouTube: The Rise of Exiled Journalists in Pakistan

Pakistani journalists are leveraging YouTube to overcome censorship, connecting with global audiences, and redefining independent reporting in their homeland.

Anam Hussain
Anam Hussain Published on: 28 Jul, 2024
How AI Synthesised Media Shapes Voter Perception: India's Case in Point

The recent Indian elections witnessed the unprecedented use of generative AI, leading to a surge in misinformation and deepfakes. Political parties leveraged AI to create digital avatars of deceased leaders, Bollywood actors

Suvrat Arora
Suvrat Arora Published on: 12 Jun, 2024
The Rise of Podcasting: How Digital Audio Is Revolutionising Journalism

In this age of digital transformation and media convergence, podcasts stand out as a testament to the enduring power of journalism—a medium that transcends borders, sparks conversations, and brings the world closer together.

Anam Hussain
Anam Hussain Published on: 6 Jun, 2024
Under Fire: The Perilous Reality for Journalists in Gaza's War Zone

Journalists lack safety equipment and legal protection, highlighting the challenges faced by journalists in Gaza. While Israel denies responsibility for targeting journalists, the lack of international intervention leaves journalists in Gaza exposed to daily danger.

Linda Shalash
Linda Shalash Published on: 9 May, 2024
Your Words Are Your Weapon — You Are a Soldier in a Propaganda War

Narrative warfare and the role of journalists in it is immense; the context of the conflict, the battleground has shifted to the realm of narratives, where journalists play a decisive role in shaping the narrative.

Ilya
Ilya U Topper Published on: 21 Apr, 2024
The Privilege and Burden of Conflict Reporting in Nigeria: Navigating the Emotional Toll

The internal struggle and moral dilemmas faced by a conflict reporter, as they grapple with the overwhelming nature of the tragedies they witness and the sense of helplessness in the face of such immense suffering. It ultimately underscores the vital role of conflict journalism in preserving historical memory and giving a voice to the voiceless.

Hauwa Shaffii Nuhu
Hauwa Shaffii Nuhu Published on: 17 Apr, 2024
Journalism in chains in Cameroon

Investigative journalists in Cameroon sometimes use treacherous means to navigate the numerous challenges that hamper the practice of their profession: the absence of the Freedom of Information Act, the criminalisation of press offenses, and the scare of the overly-broad anti-terrorism law.

Nalova Akua
Nalova Akua Published on: 12 Apr, 2024
The Perils of Journalism and the Rise of Citizen Media in Southeast Asia

Southeast Asia's media landscape is grim, with low rankings for internet and press freedom across the region. While citizen journalism has risen to fill the gaps, journalists - both professional and citizen - face significant risks due to government crackdowns and the collusion between tech companies and authorities to enable censorship and surveillance.

AJR Contributor Published on: 6 Apr, 2024
Orientalism, Imperialism and The Western Coverage of Palestine

Western mainstream media biases and defence of the Israeli narrative are connected to orientalism, racism, and imperialism, serving the interests of Western ruling political and economic elites. However, it is being challenged by global movements aiming to shed light on the realities of the conflict and express solidarity with the Palestinian population.

Joseph Daher
Joseph Daher Published on: 1 Apr, 2024
Ethical Dilemmas of Photo Editing in Media: Lessons from Kate Middleton’s Photo Controversy

Photoshop—an intelligent digital tool celebrated for enhancing the visual appearance of photographs—is a double-edged sword. While it has the power to transform and refine images, it also skillfully blurs the line between reality and fiction, challenging the legitimacy of journalistic integrity and the credibility of news media.

Anam Hussain
Anam Hussain Published on: 26 Mar, 2024
Breaking Barriers: The Rise of Citizen Journalists in India's Fight for Media Inclusion

Grassroots journalists from marginalized communities in India, including Dalits and Muslims, are challenging mainstream media narratives and bringing attention to underreported issues through digital outlets like The Mooknayak.

Hanan Zaffa
Hanan Zaffar, Jyoti Thakur Published on: 3 Mar, 2024
Silenced Voices and Digital Resilience: The Case of Quds Network

Unrecognized journalists in conflict zones face serious risks to their safety and lack of support. The Quds Network, a Palestinian media outlet, has been targeted and censored, but they continue to report on the ground in Gaza. Recognition and support for independent journalists are crucial.

Yousef Abu Watfe يوسف أبو وطفة
Yousef Abu Watfeh Published on: 21 Feb, 2024
Artificial Intelligence's Potentials and Challenges in the African Media Landscape

How has the proliferation of Artificial Intelligence impacted newsroom operations, job security and regulation in the African media landscape? And how are journalists in Africa adapting to these changes?

Derick Matsengarwodzi
Derick Matsengarwodzi Published on: 18 Feb, 2024
Media Monopoly in Brazil: How Dominant Media Houses Control the Narrative and Stifle Criticism of Israel

An in-depth analysis exploring the concentration of media ownership in Brazil by large companies, and how this shapes public and political narratives, particularly by suppressing criticism of Israel.