Hatim Bazian, a Palestinian-American scholar based in the US, declared that, thanks to international media outlets, we are now witnessing the "first time in history" with minute-by-minute coverage of a genocide. Bazian specifically referred to the Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip, where more than 21,000 people have lost their lives in the span of 12 weeks.
In an exclusive interview, Professor Hatim Bazian, who teaches at the University of California, Berkeley, emphasized the significance of journalists as the eyes and witnesses to the unfolding genocide. He highlighted the unprecedented documentation of the events, capturing the destruction of apartment buildings with civilians inside, minute by minute.
Despite censorship and restrictions on pro-Palestinian content on social media, Bazian noted that evidence presented by organizations and journalists reporting from Gaza has effectively countered biased coverage in Western media. He criticized mainstream media in the US for relying on the Israeli narrative and stories, resulting in a pro-Israel stance that overshadows the narratives of Palestinians.
Bazian acknowledged the contrast in the social media space, where the Palestinian narrative gained traction due to the direct sharing, writing, and amplification of experiences by individuals. This shift has, in turn, influenced the US government, pressuring politicians to reconsider policies and rhetoric.
Speaking at the largest Muslim NGO congress in the US, Bazian underscored the importance of social media in amplifying the voice of Palestinians globally. He also warned about the risk of legal repercussions under terrorism laws for posts on social media accounts associated with entities classified as terrorist in the US, advising the sharing of content from reliable news sources.
In the context of ongoing Israeli attacks, Bazian expressed deep admiration for journalists documenting the unfolding genocide, considering them as heroes who are witnesses to history being made over their bodies.
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