Israeli Media's Dual Role in the Hamas Conflict

Following the Hamas attack on southern Israeli communities, Israeli media has been playing a dual role as journalists and public advocates on behalf of the Israeli war effort.

When 85-year-old Israeli woman Yocheved Lifshitz was released from Hamas captivity last week, she was warmly welcomed home. Then she began to speak. Addressing reporters from a wheelchair at a hospital, Lifshitz described a harrowing experience in Hamas captivity but also said she had been fairly treated. Israeli media instantly seized on that nuanced portrayal as a blow to the country's messaging that Hamas are savages.

Israeli Media's Coverage of the Hamas Attack

The attack, which killed 1,400 people and saw more than 200 people taken captive, hit close to home for most in Israel, a small country where many people had ties to the incident. The same was true for journalists. At least two, including a former Associated Press cameraman, were killed in their homes along with other family members. One journalist was trapped inside his home with his family as militants tried to burst in and was eventually rescued by his father, a former general. One journalist posted a stream of harrowing social media posts detailing how he scrambled to have his son rescued from a music festival massacre.

Some reporters who rushed to the scenes became impromptu rescuers, ferrying people away from the violence in their cars. Terrified residents called into news stations pleading for help as the attack was underway and the military failed to come to their assistance.

Journalists as Public Advocates

As hundreds of thousands of Israelis are joining the war effort through the military reserves or by volunteering to assist displaced communities, journalists also feel the need to take part in that mass deployment. They are saying we are part of the disaster that befell us and therefore we have to work in Israeli messaging.

Nurit Canetti, chair of the Union of Journalists in Israel, said media coverage has been "responsible and reliable.” She denied that journalists were taking on the role of messengers, saying they were covering a reality that directly affected them.

Media's Criticism of the Political Leadership

Although some media have criticized the political leaderships failure to prevent Hamas onslaught, many outlets are still taking on an active role in trying to push Israel's broader messaging that the country is battling a war of good vs evil.

Lifshitzs public statement appeared to be a prime example. Ran Boker, a journalist at the popular news site Ynet, called her testimony a "PR blunder” asking, "How could it be that we, by our own hands and on Israeli soil, fall into Hamas PR trap?”

The Hamas assault and the ensuing war have had a profound impact on Israeli society, and the media has played a significant role in shaping the narrative. While journalists have a responsibility to report on the facts, they also feel a sense of duty to support their country during this difficult time. This has led to some criticism that the media is not being objective enough, but others argue that it is simply doing its job in reflecting the reality of the situation.