PNN – The website of the Canadian CBC network reported in an article about the impact of the Zionist regime’s media censorship on the Zionists’ incomplete understanding of the current events in Gaza.
According to the report of Pakistan News Network, CBC wrote: Israel’s recent action in confiscating the imaging equipment of the Associated Press was indicative of Tel Aviv’s efforts to control information and limit the freedom of the press, and it was met with a strong reaction and international condemnation. Israeli Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi, who ordered the return of the American news agency’s equipment due to growing criticism, cited a law that temporarily bans Al Jazeera from operating in the occupied territories.
Tel Aviv considers the Al Jazeera network a threat and refers to it as the “mouthpiece of Hamas”. In May, the Israeli regime suspended Al Jazeera’s activities in the country for 45 days, citing a law that allows the banning of foreign broadcasting networks as a national security risk.
On the other hand, press freedom advocates have expressed concern about self-censorship among Israeli media, arguing that they do not present a complete and accurate picture of the devastating war in Gaza.
According to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), the war in Gaza has resulted in the martyrdom of more than 100 Palestinian journalists, although some estimates put the death toll higher. On the one hand, Palestinian journalists face significant risks to record the situation in the field, and on the other hand, foreign and Israeli journalists are severely affected by strict military restrictions.
Press freedom in Israel had deteriorated even before the war, and since Benjamin Netanyahu formed the current government in 2022, attacks on the media have increased. The Minister of Communications seeks to shut down the national network and accuses the media of being left-wing. Critics argue that the newly issued licenses and new regulatory reforms will benefit right-wing media outlets aligned with the government.
The Israeli media has mostly self-censored and has not shown the extent of destruction and casualties in Gaza. This lack of coverage adds to the Israeli public’s difficulty in understanding why they are criticized by the international community. Many of the videos and images used in Israeli media are obtained from the military, who control the narrative on the ground and review footage recorded by internal journalists.
In 2023, more than 600 articles were banned or partially censored by Israeli media. Current laws allow Tel Aviv to restrict not only sensitive security information but also criticism of its actions.
Recent actions by the Netanyahu government have raised concerns about press freedom and the ability to present an accurate picture of the situation in Gaza. The severe restrictions applied to the activities of journalists limit the public’s access to information and prevent a comprehensive understanding of the current conflict.