New York Times Restricts Language on Israeli War in Gaza: Report
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – An online American investigation publication has uncovered that The New York Times has issued directives to its reporters and journalists covering Israeli war in the Gaza Strip regarding language use, urging them to restrict terms like "genocide" and "ethnic cleansing."
Additionally, they are instructed to refrain from using the phrase "occupied territory" when referring to Palestinian lands occupied by Israel.
The Intercept obtained an internal memo from The New York Times, revealing further instructions to avoid the term "Palestine" except in rare cases. The memo, authored by Times standards editor Susan Wessling, international editor Philip Pan, and their deputies, also discourages the use of "refugee camps" to describe areas in Gaza settled by displaced Palestinians.
These areas, recognized by the United Nations as refugee camps, accommodate hundreds of thousands of registered refugees. The memo, according to The Intercept, aims to provide guidance on terms and issues relevant to the conflict since October.
Several Times staffers, speaking anonymously to The Intercept, suggest that the memo reflects a bias towards Israeli narratives. One source within the newsroom expressed concern over its content, particularly its apparent apologetic stance towards Israel, highlighting the importance of understanding the historical context of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
The Intercept views the memo as offering insight into the perspectives of Times international editors. Initially distributed in November, the memo has been periodically circulated among Times journalists since then.
The Israeli genocidal war in Gaza began on October 7, 2023, following a retaliatory operation carried out by the Palestinian resistance movement in response to intensified Israeli atrocities against Palestinians. Since then, Israeli aggression has resulted in the deaths of at least 33,800 people in Gaza, with a majority being women and children.
Save the Children has expressed deep concern over the impact of the war on children in Gaza, reporting that more than 14,500 of the region's 1.1 million children have been killed, and thousands more are missing. The organization notes a severe disruption in life-saving aid and essential services due to ongoing Israeli hostilities.
According to the Global Education Cluster, as of March 30, 87.7% of school buildings in Gaza have been damaged or destroyed, further exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in the enclave.
