Amid escalating tensions and a humanitarian crisis in Gaza, Palestinian writer and activist Tara Alami has accused Western media and governments of waging an information war against Palestinians. Speaking from Montreal, Canada, Alami highlighted concerns over misinformation and disinformation surrounding the conflict.
Alami pointed to recent reports that claimed Hamas militants had beheaded babies—a story that went viral despite the Israel Defense Forces not confirming its veracity. \”These unverified claims were disseminated widely, even cited by prominent figures, which has a profound impact on public perception,\” she said.
She criticized U.S. President Joe Biden for repeating unconfirmed reports, which the White House later clarified. \”The damage is done when such statements are made,\” Alami stated. \”It’s a classic case of manufacturing consent, similar to the narratives constructed during the Iraq War.\”
According to Alami, this dissemination of unverified information serves to justify military actions and shape public opinion. \”It’s an information war against a population that’s being silenced,\” she asserted. \”The purpose is to prevent the truth about the situation on the ground from reaching the outside world.\”
Alami emphasized the asymmetry in the conflict, describing the situation in Gaza as dire. \”We have a heavily funded state military against a population enclosed in an open-air prison under a 17-year blockade,\” she explained. \”The misinformation serves to dehumanize Palestinians and justify ongoing aggression.\”
She also warned of a pattern in how such conflicts are portrayed. \”There’s a playbook being used—one that fuels manufactured fear and hysteria in Western societies,\” Alami noted. \”This not only affects public opinion but can also lead to increased discrimination against Arabs, Muslims, and Palestinians globally.\”
As the crisis continues, Alami called for critical examination of media narratives and urged the international community to seek verified information. \”It’s crucial that we question the sources and motives behind the information being presented to us,\” she implored.
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Activist: West waging an information war against Palestinians
cgtn.com
