Queen Rania Slams Western Mainstream Media's Double Standard in Israel-Gaza Conflict

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ICARO Media Group
Politics
24/10/2023 23h31

In a scathing interview with veteran journalist Christiane Amanpour, Queen Rania of Jordan criticized the glaring double standard in Western mainstream media coverage of the Israel-Gaza conflict. The interview, which aired on Amanpour & Co, showcased the queen's passionate stance on the issue.

Queen Rania expressed her disappointment with the lack of condemnation for the ongoing human suffering in Gaza, as opposed to the strong condemnation of past events. She questioned why there wasn't a call for an immediate ceasefire and highlighted the skewed narrative that often favors the Israeli side. The queen lamented the quick adoption of Israeli narratives by Western media and policymakers, emphasizing the linguistic discrepancy in labeling Palestinian deaths as mere results of Israeli attacks, while Israeli casualties are referred to as "killed" or "murdered."

Known for her advocacy for the rights of the Palestinian people, Queen Rania did not hold back in her criticism of the Israeli bombardment of Gaza, which she described as "butchery at a mass scale." She even directed her critique towards U.S. President Joe Biden's statements about the Oct. 7 attacks. In a surprising move, she also called out CNN directly.

The queen referenced an incident where President Biden initially mentioned evidence of children being beheaded, only to retract the statement following the Israeli Defense Forces' denial. She pointed out the confirmation bias that such occurrences perpetuate. Queen Rania went on to highlight an example from CNN's own website, where a headline about Israeli children found butchered in an Israeli kibbutz was published without independent verification.

Amanpour responded by mentioning pictures shown by the Israelis and the firsthand accounts of journalists who witnessed the tragic outcomes, clarifying that the focus was on babies' bodies riddled with bullets, rather than beheadings.

Queen Rania also shed light on the reactions from the Arab world, stating that many perceive the Western world as complicit in the mass death of Palestinian civilians. She expressed shock at the disparity in reactions when it comes to killing families at gunpoint versus shelling them to death. The queen accused the international community of remaining silent and not calling for a ceasefire despite the immense suffering experienced by the Palestinians.

During the interview, Amanpour cautioned the queen about the criticism she might face for referring to Israel as an "apartheid" state. Queen Rania countered by stating that the term "apartheid" had been given by Israeli and international human rights organizations, highlighting the decades-long story of death, displacement, and the dehumanization of Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza.

The queen emphasized that the issue extends beyond the current focus on Hamas, as it is a longstanding fight for freedom and justice. She urged the international community to pay attention to the daily indignities and human rights violations endured by Palestinians.

Queen Rania's fiery interview has sparked a significant debate about the role of Western mainstream media in shaping the narrative of the Israel-Gaza conflict, prompting discussions about the need for a balanced and unbiased approach to reporting on such sensitive matters.

The views expressed in this article do not reflect the opinion of ICARO, or any of its affiliates.

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