Michal Cotler-Wunsh, Israel’s special envoy for combating antisemitism, criticized the media for hastily blaming Israel in the recent conflict with Hamas. Cotler-Wunsh emphasized the need for organizations like the United Nations and the Red Cross to step in and stand up against the “genocidal terror” propagated by Hamas. She expressed concern over the spread of misinformation and its impact on global demonstrations against Israel.
Cotler-Wunsh specifically addressed the media coverage of a blast at a Gaza hospital that initially blamed Israel for the attack. She highlighted how this kind of reporting disregards the role of Hamas and instead rushes to accuse Israel. However, intelligence later revealed that the blast was actually caused by a failed Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) attack intended for Israel. President Biden also confirmed this information during his visit to Israel.
The special envoy argued that such biased coverage reflects a misunderstanding of the dangers of false moral equivalency. By allowing a genocidal terror organization like Hamas to dictate the narrative, the media inadvertently amplifies its message and actions. Cotler-Wunsh emphasized that only Hamas and its supporting regime in Iran are responsible for the loss of human life, not Israel.
Drawing parallels to past conflicts, Cotler-Wunsh stated that there is no comparison between democratic states defending their citizens and terrorist organizations like Hamas. She urged the media to exercise journalistic ethics and fact-checking to avoid empowering the war on civilization.
This article highlights the concerns raised by Israel’s special envoy regarding media coverage that rushes to accuse Israel in conflicts with Hamas. Cotler-Wunsh emphasizes the need for accurate reporting and the responsibility of the media to avoid false moral equivalency.
