Under the Radar #1
September 12th: bias at the BBC, a dive into a Hamas tunnel, Gazan rebellion, Hamas brutality, Arab recruitment to the IDF, and more
Welcome to the inaugural edition of the Talking Past: Under the Radar, where I’ll be rounding up the lesser-heard but no-less-important stories you might have missed this week.
Media Bias at the BBC
A British lawyer, armed with a team of 20 lawyers and 20 data scientists investigated the BBC’s reporting on the Gaza war since October 7th. Their findings suggest that the news organization breached its own editorial guidelines 1,533 times while covering the conflict. In “a deeply worrying pattern of bias," reporting from the BBC downplayed terrorism, showed sympathy to Hamas, and failed to disclose to viewers on multiple occasions that freelance journalists quoted, interviewed, or published by the network had openly supported Hamas, terrorism, and even Hitler in the past.
In just one example of many, BBC’s Arabic language channel frequently hosted Mayssaa Abdul Khalek, a Lebanese reporter who tweeted (among other gems):
“Sir Hitler, rise, there are a few people that need to be burned.”
Into the Tunnels
The IDF released a video of the tunnel in which 6 hostages were executed last week. In yet another reminder (as if we needed more) of Hamas’s depravity, the gaping tunnel entrance was embedded in the floor of a child’s room, its crumbling walls adorned with the remains of brightly painted cartoon characters.
Gazans are pushing back against Hamas’s use of human shields
The New York Times reported this week that Gazan civilians have been increasingly pushing back against the presence of armed militants in their camps, shelters, and tents, stating:
“these residents’ experiences suggest that at least some evacuees have blocked armed militias from moving into these shelters.”
On the same day the report was published, unconfirmed footage emerged from Gaza purporting to show a woman arguing with a Hamas member who insists on ejecting her and her family from their tent.
“I told you this morning… we need this tent” the Hamas militant says, “there will be a meeting here.”
“You come here and airstrikes follow” the woman replies desperately, “you’re a danger to all of us here! Why do you come to us (civilians)? Now you’re endangering all of us.”
This is sadly nothing new, as Hamas’s use of human shields over the last two decades has been well documented.
Hamas Brutality Front and Center
Speaking of Hamas depravity, more documentation emerged this week on Palestinian social media of Hamas’s brutal repression of Gazans in the strip. Hamas resorts to barbaric punishments for any crime committed, including the “theft” of food (aka international aid hoarded by Hamas).
Videos this week include Hamas members painting the backs of Gazans accused of theft before beating them with sticks, a terrorist publicly executing an accused thief in public with a shotgun, and another terrorist shooting out the kneecaps of a Gazan civilian.
TRIGGER WARNING: The following video is blurred, but is still highly NSFW and shows graphic violence
Another disturbing report focused on Ziad Abu Haya, a Palestinian activist who was filmed speaking out against Hamas several weeks ago. On Friday, he was dragged naked from his tent, beaten, and tortured.
Taboo of Arabs in the IDF is Slowly Crumbling
You’d be forgiven for assuming that, in the midst of Israel’s war against Hamas, the Jewish state’s Arab minority (which makes up roughly 20% of the population) might be feeling less Israeli than ever. However, it seems the opposite is true. Since October 7th, polls have shown unprecedented sentiments of unity and affiliation with the state among Israeli Arabs:
“70% of Arab citizens now express a sense of belonging to the State of Israel and a shared concern for its challenges, a significant increase from 48% just last June.”
The Times of Israel this week ran a feature on the IDF’s first non-Bedouin Muslim officer, Hisham Abu Raya, who describes the acceleration of Arab enlistment to the IDF.
“On October 7, the penny dropped among Arab Israelis. They saw that Hamas opened fire on everyone, and did not distinguish between Jewish and Muslim citizens… And there are still Muslim hostages in the hands of Hamas.”
Updates from the Protests
The anti-Israel protesters (who are definitely not antisemitic) had another busy week. In Washington DC, they chanted “Hezbollah, Hezbollah, kill another Zionist now” while holding a banner glorifying Jihad and martyrdom. In Berkeley, they praised the Hamas terrorists of October 7th as resistance fighters and compared Zionists to white supremacists and Nazis while in Beverly Hills, TikTokers harassed diners at a restaurant in the name of Palestine.
Perhaps most perplexing, a marcher proudly flew the flag of Hamas while a group of keffiyeh-clad protesters gathered around a kosher restaurant in New York to hurl slurs at visibly Jewish patrons inside, none of whom seemed to have any connection to Israel.
In Toronto, protesters blocked a highway while holding banners glorifying “armed resistance” (aka terrorism), while the streets of Montreal echoed with calls to “explode the heads of the Zionists.”
A Shooting and its Aftermath
Earlier this week, a 39-year old Jordanian drove to the border crossing between Israel and Jordan and opened fire on the waiting crowd, killing three Israeli civilians. Palestinian and Jordanian citizens were quick to react, not with condemnation, but with large-scale celebration.
Thousands gathered in the streets of Amman, cheering, launching fireworks, and burning Israeli flags in celebration of the event. In the West Bank town of Jenin, armed Islamic Jihad members held a celebratory gathering in which they hoisted a large banner of the Jordanian terrorist and chanted “Khaybar, Khaybar, Oh Jews! The army of Muhammad will return!” For those unfamiliar with this popular chant, it references the Battle of Khaybar in 628 CE, in which Jews were massacred by a Muslim army.
Instagram of the Week
The phenomenal Zach Sage is at it again, exposing campus anti-semitism in the most entertaining ways possible. In this video, he tries, with shocking success, to convince college students to join a new Hamas fraternity. Students seem to take no issue with the frat’s plans to chant outside synagogues, harass Jews, and boycott Jewish-owned business.
“We want a safe space for Jew haters” Sage explains. “Fire,” a student replies before signing his name.
