Following the horrific October 7 attacks and Israel’s subsequent airstrikes on Gaza, a new investigation reveals that the major UK media was extremely prejudiced in favor of Israel and against Palestinians, criticizing both Muslims and non-Muslim advocates of Palestine’s liberation.
According to a research published by the Centre for Media Monitoring (CfMM), an offshoot of the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB), right-wing television channels and right-wing British periodicals were leading the charge in falsely portraying pro-Palestinian activists as violent, antisemitic, or pro-Hamas.
The paper demonstrates in 150 pages why Israelis are referred to as assault victims 11 times more frequently than Palestinians due to emotional language used in UK print and electronic media; The majority of TV networks strongly advocate for “Israel’s right” to defend itself, outweighing Palestinian rights by a ratio of five to one; Israeli viewpoints were cited nearly three times more frequently in broadcast TV than Palestinian ones, and nearly twice as frequently in internet news; A dearth of context is seen in the way that 76% of internet publications refer to the conflict as a “Israel-Hamas war,” while only 24% mention “Palestine/Palestinian”; Media sources frequently misinterpret and demonize pro-Palestinian voices, reinforcing negative stereotypes. Right-wing TV channels and newspapers in the UK were leading the charge in characterizing pro-Palestinian demonstrators as violent, antisemitic, or sympathetic to Hamas.
‘Media Bias Gaza 2023-24’ is a report that critically looks at how the media covered Israel’s war on Gaza in the first month following October 7, 2023 (7 October–7 November 2023), highlighting major biases and distortions in mainstream media outlets, including how much crucial information was presented.
According to the CfMM, the analysis examined a wide range of data, including 25,515 news stories from over 28 UK online media websites and 176,627 television footage from over 13 stations.
According to the statement, the data was examined for how events were framed, what language was used, and how Palestinian voices were portrayed in mainstream media. The purpose of the report was to evaluate how biased and distorted the conflict was portrayed by different media sources.
According to the report, the terms “beheaded” and “babies” appeared in 361 TV news clips. Almost half of these mentions occurred on the right-wing British channels Talk TV (27%) and GB News (20%), with Sky News making up the remaining 14%. Of the 361 mentions, only 52 demonstrated a sufficient refutation, challenge, or questioning of the claims. These were all unsubstantiated charges, according to the investigation.
According to the study, the vast majority of web stories described the conflict as a “Israel-Hamas war,” with only a minor proportion mentioning “Palestine/Palestinian.” According to the research, this distorted framing supported a narrative that was devoid of important context and did not offer a thorough understanding of the conflict.
According to the report, the majority of television broadcasts supported “Israel’s right” to defend itself, thereby outweighing Palestinian rights five to one. Due to its biased framing, the war was shown in a twisted way, supporting narratives that gave priority to Israeli viewpoints over Palestinian ones.
Additionally, CfMM discovered that reference to Israeli TV reporting was nearly three times higher (4,311) than that of Palestinian TV reporting (1,598). It was nearly twice as much in internet news (2,983 vs 1,737).
The examination of language use in media coverage revealed a worrying pattern in which sensitive language minimized Palestinian losses while emphasizing Israeli sorrow.
According to the analysis, this discrepancy in language use strengthened a narrative that downplayed the suffering of Palestinians and supported prejudiced viewpoints.
According to the research, media outlets misrepresented and demonized pro-Palestinian views, using accusations of antisemitism and terrorism as a wedge to undermine sincere advocacy efforts. This deliberate deception damaged pro-Palestine activists’ reputation and reinforced negative preconceptions. For example, even though the protests called for a ceasefire and highlighted the misery of Palestinians, 42% of all references to demonstrators as being “pro-Hamas” came from GB News and Talk TV.
The relationship between the crisis and Islamophobia was also explored in the paper, particularly in light of the 335% rise in hate crimes motivated by Islam after October 7. The study discovered that a large number of well-known media figures, top editors, and journalists repeated Islamophobic stereotypes about Muslim identity and belief in an effort to weaken the Palestinian cause and/or Palestinian defenders.
The investigation also discovered that certain individuals and media sources have presented the dispute as one between Muslims and Jews. Some newspapers and pundits have characterized Muslim resistance to Israel as anti-Semitic. The number of anti-Semitic and Islamophobic hate crimes has increased dramatically, yet the research reports on anti-Semitism and Islamophobia according to a hierarchy of racism.
“In general, Palestinians should be reported on as human beings with full unalienable rights as enjoyed by all peoples,” lead author Faisal Hanif wrote in the paper. This also makes it necessary to consider how such rights have been restricted in an ongoing conflict that began several decades prior to October 7, 2023.
“As media organizations navigate the complexities of the conflict, it is imperative to uphold principles of fairness, accuracy, and inclusivity, ensuring that all voices are heard, and all perspectives are represented,” stated Rizwana Hamid, Director of the Center for Media Monitoring.
Peter Oborne, a seasoned writer and journalist, stated: “This analysis highlights several instances of misreporting that are the result of ignorance rather than bias. It also highlights the extremely illuminating and counterintuitive contradiction that mainstream Israeli journalists, in contrast to their British counterparts, have been more willing to speak the truth about the Gaza War. While Palestinians “die” inexplicably, Israelis who are the victims of Palestinian aggression are “killed.” Words like “massacre,” “slaughter,” and “atrocities” are more frequently used in reference to assaults against Israelis rather than Palestinians.
According to a University of Cambridge research included in the paper, mainstream media coverage of Muslim communities is fueling growing anti-Muslim sentiment in Britain. The portrayal of Islam and Muslims in the British press, according to Sir Alan Moses, the former chair of the Independent Press Standards Organization (IPSO), has been the “most difficult issue” facing the watchdog during his tenure. Muslims are “written about in a way that [newspapers] would simply not write about Jews or Roman Catholics,” he said.
I am a dedicated student currently in my seventh semester, pursuing a degree in International Relations. Alongside my academic pursuits, I am actively engaged in the professional field as a content writer at the Rangeinn website.