Gaza Mourns 'Resistance Voice,' Mainstream Media Uncorks Dictionary
When Gaza mourns its 'voice of resistance,' as The New Arab details, the Western press (The New York Times, CNN, et al.) typically reaches for euphemisms and disclaimers. They'll meticulously define 'Hamas' as 'militant' or 'terrorist,' while conveniently glossing over the fact that such figures emerge from a context of prolonged occupation and blockade—a context where Israeli settlements, deemed
illegal by international law and U.N. resolutions going back decades (UNSC Resolution 446, 1979), continue to expand. One might wonder if 'resistance' sounds different when your home hasn't been re-designated 'disputed territory' by a well-funded lobby. (Looking at you, AIPAC; OpenSecrets shows over $3 million in federal lobbying for 2023 alone.) The media's 'both sides' framing often means
equating a nuclear-armed state with one of the most densely populated, blockaded territories on earth. It’s a convenient narrative that skips the Nakba of 1948, the 1967 occupation, or even the 2008-2009 'Operation Cast Lead' where 1,300 Gazans died versus 13 Israelis (Gisha, B'Tselem). When a voice of 'resistance' is silenced, it’s not just a person, but a symptom of a narrative problem. How many
'last warnings' against genocide must ring out before the real history is aired?