BBC: Gazan babies die of cold, not displacement or bombs!

The recent BBC article paints a harrowing picture of the conditions faced by families in the region by detailing the tragic death of the newborn Sila in Gaza . The article mentioned that Sila died of drastic weather conditions, related to war

What is good about the article

The article does not explicitly state that Israel is solely responsible for the dire situation of Palestinians. However, it highlights that Sila's death was not due to direct bombardment but rather the harsh living conditions exacerbated by the war.

The narrative implies that these conditions are a consequence of the ongoing conflict, which includes military actions and restrictions imposed by Israel. This suggests an indirect acknowledgment of Israel's role in creating an environment where such tragedies can occur.

While the article mentions that Sila's death was caused by severe hypothermia due to cold conditions, it also notes that these conditions are a result of the broader humanitarian crisis stemming from the war. It indicates that many newborns have died under similar circumstances, which can be linked to the displacement caused by Israeli military actions and ongoing hostilities. Thus, while not directly attributing these deaths to Israeli strikes, it connects them to the consequences of military operations, somehow.

What is bad about the article

The article primarily focuses on the immediate factors leading to Sila's death, such as hypothermia and poor living conditions. It failed to provide a comprehensive view of how Israeli military actions have contributed to these conditions. The lack of emphasis on the systemic issues—such as blockades, military strikes, and forced displacements—could lead readers to overlook the root causes of these humanitarian crises.

The article manipulated readers by emphasizing weather-related factors while downplaying the role of military actions in creating those conditions. By focusing on hypothermia as a cause of death without sufficiently linking it to the broader context of war-induced displacement and deprivation, it didn’t provide a narrative that absolves systemic responsibility for these tragedies

Ethical Considerations

The article adheres to certain journalistic standards by reporting factual information about Sila's death and providing quotes from affected family members and medical professionals.

However, ethical journalism also requires contextualizing events within their larger frameworks. By not fully exploring how military actions contribute to humanitarian crises, it may fall short of offering a complete picture, which is essential for informed public discourse.

Notes

• The displacement of Palestinians in Gaza is largely attributed to direct actions taken by the Israeli government and military. Reports indicate that since the onset of the current conflict, approximately 85% of Gaza's population has been forcibly displaced due to evacuation orders issued by Israeli authorities, bombardments, and the destruction of homes and infrastructure.

These actions are not merely collateral damage from a war but are characterized as systematic and deliberate tactics employed by Israel.

• Human rights organizations have described these displacements as constituting war crimes and crimes against humanity. For instance, Human Rights Watch has emphasized that there is no legitimate military justification for the mass displacement of civilians in Gaza. Instead, it argues that these actions are part of a broader strategy that exacerbates humanitarian suffering rather than ensuring civilian safety

This perspective frames the situation not as an equal conflict but as a targeted assault on a civilian population.

• The argument that the conditions faced by Palestinians result from direct assaults rather than a mere state of war aligns with findings from various reports. These documents highlight how Israeli military operations often lead to repeated displacements, leaving families vulnerable and exacerbating humanitarian crises.

What about Israel?

Israel was mentioned 5 times within the article, as follows:

1. Israel prevents international media from entering and freely working on the ground in Gaza.
2. During her 20 days of life, Sila's home was the small and overcrowded campsite in the al-Mawasi "humanitarian area", where hundreds of thousands of Palestinians displaced from elsewhere in the territory have been ordered to move by the Israeli military.
3. Despite telling civilians to head to the area, the Israeli military has struck al-Mawasi repeatedly during its campaign against Hamas and other armed groups in Gaza.
4. There are heavy restrictions by Israel on food and other aid deliveries to Gaza, says the UN, compounding the war's humanitarian crisis. Israel denies that it is restricting aid.
5. Under the sound of Israeli drones flying ahead, Sila's father Mahmoud carried her lifeless body from Nasser hospital to a makeshift graveyard in Khan Younis. There, he dug a small grave in the sand.

My manipulometer score is: 7/10.