The horror of the October 7, 2023 attacks in Israel was so graphic and shocking that even American news media companies were forced to lay the blame at the feet of Hamas on Wednesday, the third anniversary of that day.
But Curtis Houck of Media Research Center says much like New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani's statement condemning the attacks then turning his ire on Israel, the mainstream media played it both ways.
“Trying to both-sides the matter by giving equal time to both the atrocities of October 7th, some, but then also saying that what happened since then was basically on the same plane,” Houck said.
This was Gayle King of CBS Mornings.
“Out to the Middle East, where three years ago today, Hamas unleashed a horrific attack on civilians in southern Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking another 250 hostage. Israel responded with an all-out military offensive in Gaza that killed more than 70,000 people.”
Hamas has been widely accused by international leaders, legal experts, and its own officials of systematically using Palestinian civilians in Gaza as human shields to protect military assets from Israeli strikes.
This strategy involves embedding fighters, command centers, and a 300-mile tunnel network within civilian infrastructure, including hospitals, schools, and residential buildings, while actively preventing civilians from evacuating combat zones.
Houck says the other tactic American news networks used this week was to tie the anniversary to the upcoming Israeli elections, perhaps trying to play on an antisemitic streak rising in America.
“We have this anniversary here in Israel, just as voters are going to the polls, and they're very mad at Benjamin Netanyahu,” Houck said.
Speaking of Mandani, he was forced to make an appearance at one of the October 7th vigils, and Houck says he looked very annoyed.
“I think a picture of his miserable face is parading around on social media and will live on as a meme.”
