Gaza to Rebuild Landmarks Israel Bombed, Media Calls it 'Work'
Al Jazeera's latest segment highlights Palestinians diligently working to rebuild Gaza’s 'beloved heritage landmarks.' It's a touching story, except for the framing that suggests these ancient sites spontaneously combusted. The segment notes these treasures were 'badly damaged by Israel during the war,' a passive construction that conveniently avoids words like 'bombed' or 'destroyed.' This
linguistic sleight-of-hand is a common tactic, turning systematic devastation into an unfortunate byproduct. While the world watches Palestinians sift through rubble to rescue their history, the architects of this destruction face no such burden. The US, for instance, just approved another $14.3 billion in aid to Netanyahu's government (HR 815, 2024), much of it military, ensuring the cycle
continues. One might wonder, how many times must a civilization be leveled before the media stops calling it mere 'damage'? Perhaps when the perpetrators contribute to the rebuilding, instead of just the next round of destruction.