THE double standards of Western main-stream media are truly astonishing. Despite the atrocities being committed by Israeli forces against starving civilians in Gaza — people who are being killed simply for trying to find food — there has been little to no condemnation from these outlets.

If we were to really believe the narrative pushed by much of the Western media, one might think Israel was dropping flowers, not bombs, from its fighter jets. These same media voices are quick to denounce leaders like Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping or Iranian officials for alleged human rights abuses, but remain cons-picuously silent when it comes to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu even as he is carrying out clear war crimes in plain sight. It is hard to take their claims of independence seriously when they seem to be so closely aligned with the positions of their governments.

The ongoing tragedy in Gaza has laid bare the hypocrisy of Western leaders. Some openly support Israel’s actions under the oft-repeated but increasingly hollow justification that Israel has the right to defend itself, while others remain silent as though nothing is happening.

Reading some Israeli newspapers, one might even find open celebration of the deaths of innocent women and children. This attitude can only be described as deeply troubling.

Among Western leaders, German Vice- Chancellor Lars Klingbeil has emerged as a particularly vocal supporter of Israel. One wonders if he has forgotten that it was actually Nazi Germany — and not Palestinw — that was responsible for the Holocaust. Why should Palestinians bear the consequences for the crimes of a regime that ended 80 years ago? Two wrongs do not make a right. The logic of supporting modern war crimes as a form of historical repayment is utterly flawed.

Shakeel Nizamani
Calgary, Canada

Published in Dawn, July 18th, 2025