What’s happening
Hana Mahameed, a reporter for Hezbollah-affiliated Lebanese channel Al Mayadeen, broadcasted live from Majdal Shams in northern Israel a day after a Hezbollah rocket killed 12 children and teenagers. During her report, Mahameed offered insights into the community’s response and skepticism about Hezbollah’s involvement in the attack.
Why it matters
The broadcast underscores the continuous tension and propaganda efforts from Hezbollah-affiliated media in the wake of violent incidents. Despite clear evidence pointing to Hezbollah’s involvement, their media attempts to manipulate community sentiments and cast doubt on their role.
Details
During her broadcast, Mahameed highlighted the funerals and mourning rituals held in the Druze town. Thousands of people, including Palestinians, came to offer condolences. There were also clashes between town residents and visiting ministers, illustrating the heightened emotions and political frictions.
Mahameed reported on the Druze community’s opposition to wind turbines in the Golan Heights and echoed Hezbollah’s denial over the deadly rocket strike. She suggested that the residents in Majdal Shams were skeptical about Israel’s statement accusing Hezbollah of the attack.
The bigger picture
Al Mayadeen is known for its Hezbollah-aligned coverage, alongside other propagandist outlets. Efforts to limit their broadcasts are often met with legal and procedural challenges. Israel’s Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi criticized the allowance of such broadcasts on Israeli soil, calling for swift action to revoke broadcasting rights from propaganda channels.
What’s next
Although previous temporary bans on Al Mayadeen’s broadcasting in Israel expired, Mahjong resident delegations and Israeli security procedures are ongoing to address and potentially re-enact broadcasting restrictions. High-priority has been given to shutting down biased channels that further Hezbollah’s interests, aiming to safeguard public information and security.
Israeli government standpoint
Minister Karhi emphasized the absurdity of letting a Hezbollah-affiliated reporter broadcast from the scene of a massacre conducted by Hezbollah. Actions to stop these broadcasts are in motion, involving security assessments and awaiting necessary approvals. The Israeli government has already shut down similar operations such as Al Jazeera, reflecting a robust stance against hostile propaganda.
This story was first published on ynetnews.com.