As violence intensifies in both Lebanon and Gaza, Yara Shoufani says the media’s bias in their coverage continues to disappoint. Shoufani is a member of the Palestine Youth Movement who was interviewed by OTR at a protest. She says the bias is persistent, and that now and in the past, “The media has contributed to hiding the
historical narrative of Palestine and Lebanon.”
Protesters rallied through Toronto on Tuesday, beginning at the U.S. consulate, to advocate for “Hands Off Lebanon” in vocal opposition to Israel’s ground invasion and to express solidarity with the people of Lebanon and Gaza.
In interviews with attendees at the protest, many expressed serious issues with the media’s coverage of Lebanon.
Listen to the full story here:
“The use of passive voice, right? Like Palestinians dead without mention of who killed them, right? Or Lebanese dead, without mention of who killed them,” said Shoufani in an interview at the protest on Tuesday.
In an article in The Wire from last year, Yasemin Giritli İnceoğlu describes this bias as “Depending upon the side they favour, media outlets have been tactfully employing language, which is resulting in hate speech and warmongering.”
The recent Israeli attacks have taken a devastating toll. Hezbollah’s reclusive leader, Hassan Nasrallah, was killed in a bombing in Beirut, following a series of assaults on the group. According to Lebanese government officials, over 1,000 Lebanese have died, 6,000 have been injured, and millions have been displaced from their homes.
Hezbollah’s retaliatory strikes against Israel have left eight individuals injured. The conflict, initially concentrated in southern Lebanon, is now spreading to other regions.
Shoufani says “Lebanon was occupied by Israel in the 1980s for decades and has faced constant aggression from Israel, and the media, of course, has not mentioned these things in their coverage, oftentimes only focusing on telling a story that suggests that the violence begins with Palestinian resistance.”
It’s this historical context that Shoufani and others point out is often overlooked in mainstream media coverage that can simplify the conflict and fail to acknowledge the broader history and root causes.
This phenomenon was also covered by The Intercept earlier this year, those journalists writing that media “offered lopsided coverage of antisemitic acts in the U.S., while largely ignoring anti-Muslim racism in the wake of October 7.”
Renu Brar, a protestor with the Communist Revolution, drew parallels between the media’s responses to different conflicts, such as the war that started in Ukraine. “The media was full of stories welcoming refugees and condemning Putin and the Russian regime for their aggression against Ukraine’s right to self-determination and defense. But when Lebanon was bombed? Nothing. What has been said about Gaza? Again, nothing.”
She expressed her frustration with the stark contrast in coverage, saying, “It’s so sad that while Israel is perceived to have a right to defend itself, it translates to justifying genocide and terrorist actions. Let’s be honest: the Canadian government has supported this narrative at every turn.”
“What the bourgeois media calls an incursion is a flagrant invasion, and it’s not the first time that Israel has invaded Lebanon,“ said Barry Weisleder, the federal secretary of Socialist Action. “This is an attempt to not only obliterate the Palestinian people but to punish all who support their efforts for freedom and justice in the Middle East.”
“So many people were watching the news, and the situation has massively escalated because of the aggression and actions of Israel,” said Brar. “If you read the news, it’s all about how Iran is the aggressor. The Canadian capitalist system has covered up the reality of this conflict. I’m here today to reveal the truth. The aggressions are coming from Israel and, more importantly, from the American and Western imperialists, including Canada, who back Israel politically and militarily.”
The Canadian government is trying to get Canadians out of Lebanon and according to their website, have contributed $37 million in funding to Lebanon in 2024.
The Lebanese community in Toronto has been deeply affected, with many having family back home as Canada works to evacuate its citizens from Lebanon. Many Lebanese people are currently displaced, and both the Lebanese and Palestinian communities have united to demand an end to the violence and a halt to arms shipments to Israel.
Shoufani said “Canadians and Americans are overwhelmingly opposed to Israel’s genocide in Gaza. But of course, the disappointment remains that the politicians of these countries are ignoring the will of the people.”
Brar said she believes that demonstrations are vital for change. “This protest shows that we need to take matters into our own hands. The vast majority of Canadians do support Palestinians and want a free Palestine.”
Protesters are demanding a ceasefire and arms embargo, and according to their website, the Canadian government agrees.
“Canada stands in solidarity with the people of Lebanon affected by this conflict, and we’re committed to helping provide them with the humanitarian assistance they need. We are calling for an immediate ceasefire and will continue to support our humanitarian partners in the country,” reads a statement from Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs on the Government of Canada website from Sept. 28.
But also according to their own website, Canada supplied Israel with $21.3 million in military exports in 2022.
Shoufani stated, “Canada’s legacy is a legacy of standing with the genocide against the Palestinian people.”
Oct. 7 marks one year since Hamas attacked Israel, killing 1,200 people, and Israel responded with a bombardment that has killed more than 40,000 Palestinians.
“We need to stand up against what’s happening and point to the real enemy of the working class, which is Western imperialism and Israel. The Canadian government should take a more active role in responding to this conflict,” said Brar.
Reporter, On The Record, Fall 2024
