Thread by @theIMEU

THREAD: Here’s what journalists need to know when covering Israel’s latest attack on #Gaza:

1) Palestinians in Gaza live under a brutal, illegal, 15-year-long siege, where Israel has limited Palestinians’ access to electricity, clean drinking water, and life-saving medical treatment.

2) Israel has one of the most powerful militaries in the world and is attacking a largely defenseless, entrapped civilian population in one of the most densely populated places in the world.

3) Today Israel murdered a 5-year-old child, along with at least 7 other Palestinians. Any coverage of Israel’s attacks on Gaza that doesn’t lead with the gravity of these war crimes is dehumanizing and irresponsible.

4) Gaza is still reeling from the last time Israel launched an all-out attack. In 2021, the Israeli military killed more than 200 Palestinians, including 64 children. The US must start holding Israel accountable for its war crimes.

5) The root cause of today’s attacks on Gaza = Israel’s ongoing violence and oppression. Even when Israel’s bombs aren’t dropping, life in Gaza is unbearable. Palestinians in Gaza deal with Israel’s violence every day of the year.

6) Too often, Palestinian voices are left out of stories that involve them. Palestinians should be given space to voice their experiences and views in any coverage of Israel’s attacks on Gaza.

7) Israeli military and gov’t sources often spread false claims about their activities & employ propaganda to justify the military’s continued violence and oppression of Palestinians. Journalists should avoid repeating gov’t talking points and fact-check everything for validity.

8) Journalists shape the narrative around key events, which means they also have a responsibility to ensure their coverage is fair & complete.

For more, see IMEU’s guidance for reporting on Palestine/Israel: imeu.org/article/guidan…

#GazaUnderAttack