Owen Jones’s article (Israel’s leaders committed genocide in Gaza and must pay for it. Their political and media allies must too, 23 January) oversimplifies the deeply complex and tragic conflict in Gaza, diluting the seriousness of his arguments.
While he condemns the west’s supply of weapons to Israel, he ignores the global arms trade that fuels violence on both sides. Hamas and other militant groups have also received weapons, and the international community has failed to address this. Critiquing only one side’s arms supply neglects the broader dynamics that perpetuate this conflict.
Jones also frames morality around the number of casualties, highlighting Palestinian civilian deaths while downplaying Israeli suffering. The killing of civilians, especially children, is immoral regardless of scale or side. A numbers-based approach risks creating a false moral hierarchy and trivialising individual tragedies.
Lastly, Jones critiques the media for enabling Israel’s actions but fails to address how sensationalism and oversimplification in reporting have failed both sides. Media narratives, well demonstrated in Jones’s article, often present this conflict as a battle between oppressor and oppressed, ignoring the shared culpability and the humanity of all victims. Journalism should hold all parties accountable rather than seeking attention-grabbing headlines.
Acknowledging the inhumane actions of both Hamas and the Israeli leadership strengthens the case for justice and peace. Supporting the Palestinian cause does not mean absolving Hamas, just as defending Israel cannot ignore its policies towards Palestinians. True accountability lies in recognising the suffering on both sides and demanding global action to prevent further violence.
The real shame is the failure of the international community, which has allowed this tragedy to escalate. It is time for the media to reject black-and-white narratives and support a solution based on empathy, accountability and systemic change.
Boaz Tal
London
