Speaking at the "Genocide in Gaza" conference, British-Israeli journalist Rachel Shabi delivered a scathing critique of Western media’s role in shaping public perception of Israel’s assault on Gaza. She argued that mainstream outlets have not only failed to report the ongoing atrocities with accuracy and integrity, but have actively enabled the war through omission, distortion, and dehumanisation. Shabi drew attention to the stark disparity in media empathy, readily extended to Ukrainian and Israeli victims, yet consistently denied to Palestinians. She condemned the press for erasing context, sanitising Israeli violence, and failing to hold Israel accountable for banning international journalists from Gaza, all while discrediting the work of local Palestinian reporters. Ultimately, Shabi warned that these failures have helped normalise a “collapse of shared humanity,” undermining the principles of universal justice by forcing audiences to decide whose suffering is deemed worthy of attention. Catch MEE LIVE, our new biweekly live news programme, where we take a look at the news shaping our world through breaking coverage, expert analysis and hard-hitting interviews. MEE LIVE: Tuesday & Thursday | 12pm ET | 5pm BST | Join the conversation at MEELive@middleeasteye.org
