Afrasianet - Omar Fares - For decades, the Palestinian issue has been a captive of the Israeli narrative in the Western media, with Israel portrayed as the "victim surrounded by enemies" and the Palestinians presented as a source of violence and threat.
This media bias was evident in the way Palestinian guests were asked questions or in solidarity with them, as they were often asked first to "condemn" the resistance movements, especially Hamas, before being allowed to delve into the details of the Israeli occupation and violations.
One of the most prominent examples of this was the style of the well-known British journalist Piers Morgan, who used to ask the central question in his interviews: "Do you condemn Hamas?" , to put the guest in a defensive position from the first moment.
But over time, Morgan himself seemed to have seen a noticeable shift in his rhetoric, as he began to ask similar questions, this time to the Israeli side, such as: "You are the killers of children in Gaza, how do you justify this?"
This shift cannot simply be seen as a transition from "Israel's side" to "Palestine's side," but rather a reflection of a broader equation: the decline of the Israeli narrative's ability to monopolize media discourse in the West, and the rise of the Palestinian narrative to the center of public debate.
The Palestinian resistance, despite its weak capabilities compared to Israel's, has proven its ability to impose new equations and obstruct the Israeli project in Gaza.
The Media Trap: The Question of "Condemning Hamas"
The question posed to the Palestinian guest, "Do you condemn Hamas?" is not a neutral question, but rather a deliberate political and media tool. It forces the Palestinian or his supporter to begin with an apology or condemnation, rather than by explaining the roots of the tragedy: seven decades of occupation, ethnic cleansing, suffocating blockades, and accelerated settlements.
It is noteworthy that this type of question is rarely addressed to the Israeli side or its supporters.
No one asks them: "Do you condemn the bombing of hospitals and schools? Do you condemn the killing of thousands of children in Gaza? Do you condemn the settlements and the displacement of Palestinians?"
From the Six Day War to Today's Deficit
Perhaps the most striking historical paradox in this context is the comparison between the June 1967 war and the 22-month-old war on Gaza.
In 1967, in just six days, the Israeli army defeated several Arab armies combined, occupying territory twice the size of historic Palestine, including the West Bank, Gaza, Sinai, and the Golan.
It was a swift military victory that strengthened Israel's image as an invincible power and introduced it into the West's consciousness as a strategic ally capable of imposing new realities by force.
But today, after decades of military and technological superiority, Israel stands helpless in the face of besieged resistance in the Gaza Strip. Despite having one of the most powerful armies in the world, and with the direct support of the United States and its allies, it has not been able to eliminate resistance factions for nearly two years.
This discrepancy reveals that the balance of power is measured not only by the number of planes and tanks, but also by the will of the peoples and their ability to turn historical injustice into a continuous energy of resistance. The Palestinian resistance, despite its weak capabilities compared to Israel's arsenal, has proven its ability to impose new equations and obstruct the Israeli project in Gaza.
Transformations in the media are inseparable from shifts in public opinion. The younger generation in Western universities, especially in the United States and Britain, is becoming more aware of the Palestinian issue.
Piers Morgan's Transformation: From Bias to Criticism
In this context, the shift in the discourse of Western media figures such as Piers Morgan is important. Initially, he was part of the traditional media model that places the burden of condemnation on the Palestinian, but over time, after documenting the ongoing massacres in Gaza, he is no longer able to ignore the truth.
Morgan began confronting Israeli officials with questions they were not accustomed to in the Western media: about the killing of children, about the destruction of civilian infrastructure, and about the inhumane blockade.
This shift does not necessarily reflect a complete bias towards the Palestinian narrative, but it does reflect a growing awareness that the Israeli narrative has been discredited by images coming from Gaza and by reports by international human rights organizations.
Western Public Opinion: A New Generation and a Different Voice
Shifts in the media are inseparable from shifts in public opinion. The younger generation in Western universities, especially in the United States and Britain, is becoming more aware of the Palestinian cause.
Social media has played a central role in breaking the monopoly of the Israeli narrative, with images of children under the rubble and footage of the bombing being broadcast live to millions of followers around the world.
This generation sees Israel as an occupying and racist state, not just a "threatened democracy." They see the Palestinian as a victim of settler colonialism, not as a "saboteur." These shifts were reflected in the massive demonstrations in the capitals of the world, where hundreds of thousands came out to demand an end to the genocide in Gaza and an end to the blockade.
The transformation of Piers Morgan and other Western media professionals is only an indication of the cracking of the wall of the Israeli narrative in the global media. Lies can no longer hide the horrific truths in Gaza and the West Bank.
The Gap Between People and Governments
But the dilemma lies in the deep gap between the attitudes of Western peoples and the policies of their governments. While popular sympathy for Palestine is growing, Western governments, especially the United States, Britain, Germany, and France, continue to provide unconditional support to Israel, politically, militarily, and economically.
This contradiction is clearer than ever: people take to the streets in defense of Palestine, while leaders go to the United Nations to repeat the rhetoric of "Israel's right to defend itself." Herein lies the West's great moral crisis: the double standards in dealing with international law and human rights.
What is certain is that the Palestinians have proved, once again, that resistance is not just a military option, but an expression of the will of a people that cannot be erased from history.
The transformation of Piers Morgan and other Western media professionals is only an indication that the wall of the Israeli narrative in the global media is cracking. Lies can no longer hide the horrific truths in Gaza and the West Bank.
But the crucial question remains: Will this popular sympathy turn into political pressure that changes official policies? Or is it just an emotional wave that ignites and then fades?
What is certain is that the Palestinians have proved, once again, that resistance is not merely a military option, but an expression of the will of a people that cannot be erased from history. Israel, no matter how powerful, cannot subjugate a nation that has decided to survive.