hose who have studied journalism, mass communication, political science, history or anything remotely related to it, understand the power and role of the media in shaping the public’s opinion during wars. This brings us to the current situation that began on October 7, 2023. The world was shocked to “learn” that 40 children had been beheaded—something horrendous to even imagine let alone hear on news. The international media rallied a campaign with front page headlines screaming for revenge. Hollywood celebrities dashed to sign petitions to “take revenge on all and spare none.”

This could have played out differently had the international media done its due research. On the very frontlines, we had journalist Clarrisa Ward being called out by activist Rahma Zein whose words were perhaps the most accurate in describing how Western media and Hollywood come together to dehumanise Muslims and brand them as terrorists or allies, according to their needs.

“Where is your condemnation? Where is your channel covering this? Say the truth. We understand that you are an employee and just a puppet and that you have a foreign policy. Come talk to me as a human being. I understand that you speak for and represent your government. With that being said you’re from a country that claims free speech. Your customised democracy is what led to [this] and now we are watching an occupation and we are watching the result of your silence, of your misrepresentation of Arabs. We try to change the narrative, but you own the narrative; you own the United Nations; you own Hollywood; you own all these mouthpieces. Where are our voices? Instead of mourning these Palestinian children we’ve been dealing with more dehumanisation of Arabs.”

This confrontation took place at the very beginning of the conflict, about a year ago. This has led to the larger problem with international news television. The IDF started circulating videos showing them supposedly helping Palestinians out of a conflict zone. All of those being projected as being helped were known to have been murdered. The IDF funded ads on children’s channels, targeting parents asking: “what if this happened to your child?” The abduction of children from Gaza by the Israeli military was portrayed as “giving them a better life.” The whereabouts of those Palestinian children are still unknown.

Israel has released two documentaries Bearing Witness and Screams Before Silence. One was released by the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit, while the other was led by American businesswoman Sheryl Sandberg.

The films set out to channel sympathy and support for Israel’s retaliatory attack on the Gaza strip—an open air prison—to collect funds, and rid international bodies such as the UN of their role in reconciliation and justice, and to garner international approval to raze the strip to the ground. No strings attached. Zero consequences.

Bearing Witness is a 47-minute-long movie created using footage acquired in part from body cameras of Hamas militants involved in strikes against Israel on October 7. The video plays out the attack in graphic detail, including scenes of death and mutilation of Israeli residents and foreign workers. Footage was captured on mobile phones by residents attempting to flee and by first responders. The film contains sensitive imagery—charred victims, including a burned infant; citizens being shot in houses, automobiles and public places; a body being beheaded; bodies being tossed in the garbage; troops being slaughtered at military posts; and female captives being dragged by their hair while being kidnapped. Claims of babies being killed were debunked by major Western authorities. Yet, just like the Kuwait incubator incident was used to justify the Gulf war, Israeli babies were used to justify the murder of 40,000 innocent Palestinians

Anat Stalinsky directed Screams Before Silence, with cinematographer Sasha Gavrikov and Sheryl Sandberg at the helm. Amit Soussana, who was kidnapped and released as part of a hostage swap in November 2023, is one of the film’s subjects. She revealed the sexual assault she endured while she was detained by Hamas. The video also features testimonials from ZAKA (post-disaster response teams) members and other witnesses regarding rape and sexual assaults during the slaughter at the Nova Festival and other locations in Israel, where the incidents are said to have occurred. Contrary to this, Hamas accommodated Israeli hostages as evidenced by some interviews taken after their release, providing food, medical care and protection. On the other hand, many in Gaza have been starving. Many such as Ajam, a released Israeli hostage, ended up praising Hamas on Israeli television, but their voices were suppressed because it went against the narrative being created. Abetted by the US and European countries, Israel has committed grave crimes—raping, beheading, burning, starving—only to livestream it all to face no repercussions despite evidence.

Israel’s military and political leadership have always been sensitive to foreign criticism, especially from the European and US media. The country has been a popular destination for international correspondents, with an estimated 200-300 regular reporters stationed there, with a tenfold increase during conflicts. Israel is already known for its propaganda not only to brainwash its own people into committing crimes that are grotesque but also to influence the Western media and public. Israel has used techniques such as promoting itself on Western traditional and social media platforms; banning anti Israel correspondents and funding those promoting it; and in some cases, assaulting the professionalism of foreign reporters.

Biased documentaries that promote Israeli propaganda and fabricate lies about Palestinians can significantly exacerbate the conflict by distorting public perception and dehumanising Palestinians. Such distortions reinforce harmful stereotypes, justify aggressive policies and reduce international empathy and intervention. This creates an environment where violence and human rights abuses are more readily accepted and less likely to be challenged.

Ultimately, these false narratives contribute to a climate that can facilitate further atrocities and suffering, potentially escalating genocidal actions against Palestinians. Objective reporting is crucial to prevent these harmful outcomes and promote a fair and informed understanding of the conflict. In such a scenario, it is crucial to call out documentaries such as Bearing Witness and Screams Before Silence for their false, biased and targeted misinformation and tackle them down with facts.

The writer has a degree in psychology with a minor in mass communication. She can be reached at ukmaryam2@gmail.com