ONLY 33% OF BRITS BELIEVE BRITISH MEDIA HAS COVERED THE ISRAEL-GAZA WAR FAIRLY

A new YouGov poll, commissioned by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, has revealed the British public’s distrust towards media coverage of the war in Gaza.

The survey’s findings are being released to coincide with Jalsa Salana – the UK’s largest Muslim convention, taking place on 26-28 July 2024 on a 200 acre farm in Hampshire.

It found that while only 33% of the British public felt media coverage of the Israel-Gaza War was fair, almost twice as many people (62%) felt the same about media coverage of the Russia-Ukraine War.

Younger people were even more sceptical of the reporting on Gaza. Only 17% of 18-24 year-olds felt UK media coverage of the Gaza War was fair, compared to 56% for Ukraine.

The Jalsa Salana will include the Bait (pledge of allegiance) – a powerful ceremony where attendees will link hands in a gesture of unity, signifying their desire to elevate their spiritual standards and to fulfil the rights of all humanity.

The Jalsa Salana will also host a panel discussion on how the media has reported on the war in Gaza. Panellists for the discussion include Al Jazeera’s Gaza Correspondent, Youmna ElSayed and Director of the Palestine Journalism Hub, Shuruq As’ad.

The convention will be led by the Caliph of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, whose speeches will be televised and streamed to millions around the world.

Speaking about the important role the media plays, The Caliph has said:

“There is no doubt that the media plays a huge role in influencing public opinion and so the media should use this power responsibly – as a force for good and as a force for peace.”

“True justice requires presenting the entire state of affairs and then let the world decide who the oppressor and oppressed are, to what extent this war is warranted and at what point it should end. Hence all the facts should be presented to the world, as opposed to presenting merely one-sided coverage.”

The Israel-Gaza War has been the deadliest for journalists since the Committee to Protect Journalists began collecting data in 1992. As of 19 July, 108 journalists and media workers were confirmed killed: 103 Palestinian, two Israeli and three Lebanese.

Youmna ElSayed, Gaza Strip Correspondent for Al Jazeera English said:

“There is a massive failure by the mainstream media in the way it is reporting the war in Gaza. Basic editorial principles are abandoned to favour certain narratives. The most routine fact-checking does not take place and headlines do not reflect the true nature of the atrocities.

“Much of the media coverage has been a travesty, excusing a genocide in real-time. It’s time for better media accountability, responsible coverage and a return to a fundamental principle of journalism – to report without fear or favour.”