The strike on the Gaza hospital reminds us that the war between Israel and Hamas is also being fought on the front of information and images.
Even if we do not have absolute certainty about the facts, we can already speak of a huge media blunder. Tuesday, at 8 p.m., a few minutes after the events, French and Western media announced 200, then 500 deaths, “in an Israeli strike on a Gaza hospital”. I could have made the same mistake, as this conclusion seemed so obvious, since it is Israel which is bombing Gaza. But very quickly, the Israeli army denied any responsibility and provided convincing evidence, including to Joe Biden, including the recording of a conversation between two members of Hamas, supporting the thesis of a failed shot by Islamic Jihad. Moreover, if the shot had come from Israel, it is difficult to explain why the journalists swarming in the south of the country would not have seen anything. Last night, most of the media, suddenly very cautious, explained that there was propaganda everywhere, and that we couldn’t know anything. There is propaganda, obviously, but also facts.
The responsibility of the media is heavier than ever
And be careful, we are not here in a theoretical debate on information warfare. Because a report broadcast in Paris or Gaza can lead to deaths in London or Arras. And in this case, this information (Israelis killing hundreds of civilians in a hospital) has already provoked demonstrations in front of several of our embassies. Result: everyone now fears riot contagion, from Western chancelleries to the presidential palaces of regimes in Muslim countries.
Yesterday evening at 8 p.m. French and English media announced 200, then 500 dead “in an Israeli strike on a hospital in Gaza”. I could have made the same mistake, this conclusion seemed so obvious. Since then, the Israeli theory of a failed shot by Islamic Jihad,…
— Elisabeth Lévy (@ELevyCauseur) October 18, 2023
Is it then the fault of the Western media? No, let’s be honest. The media can inspire or comfort a murderer of opportunity in our cities. But for the crowds who demonstrated yesterday, that doesn’t change much. They are already living in the post-truth era.
Also read, Ivan Rioufol: Breaking Muslim silence in the face of the barbarity of Hamas
Even if they were shown photos of jihadists sending the missile, they would remain convinced that it was a Zionist move. Hatred of Israel, fueled by ignorance, is manipulated by all powers. And the 2003 lie about Iraqi weapons permanently discredited American and Western speech, including among Arab elites.
It is useless to ban hatred
The protests are not only taking place in Tehran or Tunis; it could also occur in Sarcelles or Vénissieux.
However, these demonstrations should not be banned in my opinion, even if they are clearly pro-Hamas, except when the risk of disturbing public order is absolutely obvious. This is also the fairly wise position of the Council of State which does not prohibit bans, but requires it on a case-by-case basis under the leadership of the prefects rather than a general ministerial directive. Yes, we risk hearing sickening slogans, and they will have to be punished. But it is not by prohibiting hatred of Jews and Israel that we will make it disappear.
This column was first broadcast on Sud Radio
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