Noureen Choudry
The ongoing conflict in Gaza has garnered global attention, with United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres warning that the region is fast becoming “a graveyard for children.” However, the Western response to the crisis has raised questions about their moral credibility and ethical standards, particularly in comparison to the Ukraine war. The way Western governments are handling Israel’s actions in Gaza, unveil the hypocritical and dual role of Western governments and media.
Despite the exposed war crimes, Israel continues to receive military aid from the United States, a stark contrast to the swift condemnation and sanctions imposed on Russia during the Ukraine conflict. The unwavering support for Israel from the U.S., UK, Germany, and France, along with the continuous supply of weaponry, has sparked concerns about the West’s moral stance. One major obstacle hindering criticism of Israel’s actions is the fear of being labeled anti-Semitic. This fear has silenced many in the West, preventing open dialogue about the situation in Gaza. I think that challenging this misuse of the anti-Semitism charge is crucial to maintaining moral integrity.
The media’s portrayal of Palestinians as violent terrorists has contributed to the dehumanization of their struggle. Western media coverage has failed to present the Palestinian perspective, perpetuating stereotypes and justifying Israel’s actions. The intentional focus on Hamas and violence aims to further dehumanize Palestinians and shift blame for their suffering. The economic and humanitarian consequences of the conflict are immense, with Israeli restrictions causing crises in Gaza’s productive sectors. The fishing industry, agriculture, and access to electricity face significant challenges, leading to financial losses and a decline in living conditions for the population.
The violation of international conventions by Israel’s imposition of collective punishment on Gaza is inhuman from every angle. It calls for the lifting of restrictions, an end to collective punishment, and international pressure to uphold the rights of Palestinians in accordance with relevant norms. The devastating statistics of more than twenty-five thousand casualties by the end of January, 2024, including half being children and women, highlight the human cost of the conflict. The lack of essential facilities such as water, food, and adequate medical care further accentuates the dire situation faced by Gaza’s inhabitants.
It is, however, responsibility of the media to question the moral values of the West, particularly the United States, in providing unconditional aid to Israel despite its alleged use in harming civilians. The actions of the West clearly signal a great loss of moral and human values, raising concerns about the ethical foundation of their foreign policies. In short, I would emphasize that Western governments, particularly the United States, have displayed moral inconsistency in their response to the Israel-Gaza conflict. What is the dire need of the day is that to call for an impartial international investigation into alleged war crimes in the Israel-Gaza conflict and to urge the United Nations to establish a commission for accountability. Advocating for unrestricted humanitarian aid to Gaza, emphasizing collaboration among international organizations and countries to address the crisis is necessary.
Enforcing Western governments, particularly the United States, to prioritize diplomatic solutions and support an immediate ceasefire over military aid. Highlighting the media’s role in shaping public opinion, urging responsible reporting and unbiased coverage of the conflict is also needed.
Furthermore, it is also essential to emphasize the importance of upholding international conventions to protect civilian rights and call on relevant international bodies to pressure Israel for humanitarian needs. Promoting awareness campaigns about the conflict’s complexities, encouraging critical thinking and discouraging the misuse of accusations are also important to be kept in mind.
On broad level advocating for increased global solidarity and cooperation to address root causes, urging diplomatic efforts for a just and sustainable resolution are also obligatory. Hence, an humanitarian crises could be resolved and the moral stance or the standard they claim could also be restored otherwise the stance would become a clasp to bosom that “the Satan is at work”
The author is a graduate in Mass Communication and a member of RFI team.
