By Dr. Lokman Khan

When you look at the headlines coming from Western news outlets, especially concerning the relentless bombing of Gaza and the recent Iran-Israel conflict, it’s like we’re all living in a different reality. The narrative is chillingly consistent: Israel is portrayed as a victim acting in self-defence, while Iran and its allies are painted as the sole aggressors, the troublemakers in the region. But does the reality on the ground match this picture?

A closer look reveals a starkly different story. It is Israel that has bombed at least four Middle Eastern nations. It is Israel that possesses nuclear weapons, a fact it neither confirms nor denies. It is Israel that has reduced Gaza to an uninhabitable wasteland, killing over 60,000 Gazans—70% of whom are women and children. Yet, Western media, particularly in America, continues to scream headlines that frame Israel as the victim.

Consider the stark contrast in headlines. When Israel bombs a refugee camp in Gaza, the headline might read: “Israel strikes Hamas targets in Gaza, casualties reported,” or “Israeli strike kills Hamas commander, civilians caught in crossfire.” But when Iran launches a retaliatory attack, the tone becomes aggressive: “Iran’s dangerous attack draws global condemnation,” or “Iran risks sparking wider war in the Middle East.”

Today, few people read beyond the headlines. Most of us just glance at them, and those headlines have one overwhelming message: Israel is the victim, and Iran and the Palestinians are the aggressors. This one-sided narrative, amplified by Western media, has become a powerful tool.

It’s a dangerous shame. A handful of media organizations attempt to provide a balanced and truthful account of the conflict, but their voices are often drowned out by the dominant pro-Israel narrative.
This media bias has serious consequences. It reduces international pressure on Israel, allowing human rights violations and potential war crimes to be framed as acts of “self-defence.” When the world sees Israel as a victim, accountability falls by the wayside. This bias makes it nearly impossible to find a just resolution to the conflict.

The media’s job is to report the truth, not to advocate for one side. By pushing a biased narrative, they are not just failing at journalism—they are fanning the flames of conflict. Unless this trend is reversed, the conflict will only deepen, and the truth will remain a casualty of the headlines.