Introducing the Mainstream Media’s Preferred Human Rights Experts: They Strongly Disfavor Israel
Omar Shakir, a Prominent Voice in NYT and WaPo, Blames Israeli ‘Apartheid’ for Hamas Terrorism
L: Human Rights Watch’s Omar Shakir (Forbes Breaking News/YouTube) R: Gaza lawyer Raji Sourani (EuroMed Rights/YouTube)
The Washington Post recently enlisted the opinions of two human rights experts, Omar Shakir and Raji Sourani, to criticize Israel over viral images of Palestinian prisoners in their underwear. In an article titled “Hungry, Thirsty, and Humiliated: Israel’s Mass Arrest Campaign Sows Fear in Northern Gaza,” Shakir called for an international investigation into the actions of the Jewish state. Sourani condemned Israel for leaving “corpses all over the place” in Gaza.
Both Shakir and Sourani are frequently quoted in the New York Times, with Shakir being a regular contributor. In a December 13th article titled “Under Rules of War, ‘Proportionality’ in Gaza Is Not About Evening the Score,” Shakir raised “serious questions” about Israel’s potential war crimes.
Shakir, the Israel and Palestine director for Human Rights Watch, and Sourani, a self-proclaimed human rights lawyer in Gaza, are far from impartial experts. They both attribute Hamas’s terrorist activities to Israeli actions, and Shakir has called for the dismantling of Israel’s alleged apartheid state even before Israel initiated its retaliatory attacks.
The fact that Shakir and Sourani are given prominence in the Times and Post reflects the media’s attempt to equate the democratic state of Israel with the terrorist group Hamas on a moral level.
In one of his first tweets after October 7th, Shakir blamed the violence on Israeli “apartheid,” stating in an October 9th tweet: ”So long as there’s impunity, Gaza remains an open-air prison and Israel’s apartheid isn’t dismantled, bloodshed and repression will continue.”
Sourani responded to Hamas’s killing of Israeli civilians in a similar fashion. In his first tweet after the attack, he accused Israel of launching “the boldest and most cruel unprecedented attack” in “the heart of Gaza.” He also criticized Israel for bombing a hospital, echoing Hamas’s talking points. He wrote, “The bombing of the Paptist hospital in the heart of Gaza, the boldest and most cruel unprecedented attack which resulted in almost 500 deaths, is the first of its scale. Israel is criminal.”
These strongly anti-Israel voices have become the go-to authorities on human rights for the mainstream media. Since October 7th, Shakir has been cited 18 times and Sourani 3 times in the Times and Post. At the same time, both Shakir and Sourani have used platforms like X (formerly Twitter) to accuse Israel of “apartheid” and “genocide,” as well as spread Hamas propaganda by questioning whether Hamas uses facilities like hospitals and schools for military operations.
The killings of hundreds of Israelis & Palestinians over the last 72 hours reflect a flagrant disregard for international law. So long as there’s impunity, Gaza remains an open-air prison & Israel’s apartheid isn’t dismantled, bloodshed & repression will continue pic.twitter.com/BxhYNhdjQr
— Omar Shakir (@OmarSShakir) October 9, 2023
In a November 14th Reuters article, Shakir raised doubts about whether Hamas uses Gazan hospitals for military operations. He argued that even if they do, Israel’s decision to fight in and around those hospitals, particularly Al-Shifa, is cause for concern.
Shakir also defended the use of death counts provided by Hamas, stating in a November 6th report by the Associated Press that those figures are “professionally done and have proven to be reliable.”
Remember the think pieces about Israeli leaders “shrinking the conflict”? Caging over 2 million people in an open-air prison & systematically repressing a population for decades was never sustainable. There’s no way forward without addressing root causes—including impunity & apartheid. https://t.co/wIGfqrn9DT
— Omar Shakir (@OmarSShakir) November 9, 2023
Meanwhile, Sourani condemned President Joe Biden on October 18th for “supporting Israel, the occupying power, in its ongoing genocide and ethnic cleansing of Palestinians.” He accused the Democrat of covering up ”large-scale massacres.” In an October 17th interview with left-wing outlet Democracy Now!, he referred to Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and other terror groups as part of a “resistance” and blamed Israel for the “root causes” of Hamas terrorism.
“Everybody should think about the root causes of this. There is an occupation by Israel,” Sourani said. “It’s a shame on the West to support such a criminal country that commits these war crimes. … We will not accept that.”
The bombing of the Paptist hospital in the heart of Gaza, the boldest and most cruel unprecedented attack which resulted in almost 500 deaths, is the first of its scale. Hospitals were asked to evacuate and refused because patients would die. Israel is criminal.
— Raji Sourani (@RajiSourani) October 18, 2023
Neither the Times nor the Post responded to requests for comment.
What evidence is there to support the claim that Hamas manipulates casualty numbers for propaganda purposes?
Collected” and that there is no reason to doubt their accuracy. However, it is widely known that Hamas has a history of manipulating casualty numbers and using them for propaganda purposes.
The fact that the mainstream media continues to give Shakir and Sourani a platform is deeply concerning. Their biased and anti-Israel stance not only undermines the truth but also perpetuates a false narrative that demonizes the Jewish state. By equating the actions of a terrorist organization like Hamas with the legitimate self-defense measures taken by Israel, they are disregarding the complex reality of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
It is also worth noting that both Shakir and Sourani are employees of organizations with questionable agendas. Human Rights Watch, where Shakir serves as the Israel and Palestine director, has been criticized for its bias against Israel. The organization has been accused of using double standards and disproportionately focusing on Israeli actions while downplaying or ignoring Palestinian terrorism.
Similarly, Sourani’s position as a self-proclaimed human rights lawyer in Gaza raises doubts about his independence and objectivity. Gaza is governed by Hamas, a terrorist organization that has systematically violated human rights, including targeting Israeli civilians and using its own people as human shields. It is unlikely that Sourani can provide an unbiased perspective when his livelihood depends on the regime he defends.
The mainstream media has a responsibility to present unbiased and accurate information to the public. By giving platforms to individuals with clear biases and agendas, they are failing in this duty. It is crucial that journalists and news organizations strive for objectivity and provide a balanced view of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
It is essential to question the motives and reliability of the sources we rely on for information. We must be critical thinkers and seek out diverse perspectives to form a comprehensive and informed understanding of complex issues like the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Failing to do so only perpetuates the cycle of misinformation and further deepens divisions between communities.
In conclusion, the prominence given to Omar Shakir and Raji Sourani in the mainstream media reflects a biased and irresponsible approach to reporting on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Their anti-Israel stance, biased affiliations, and propagation of Hamas propaganda undermine the truth and contribute to a distorted narrative. It is crucial for journalists and news organizations to prioritize objectivity and present a balanced view to ensure an accurate understanding of the complex issues at hand.
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