A Ceasefire in Name Only: How the Media Launders Israel’s Violence

The definition of ceasefire is in the very name: cease fire. Its meaning is unambiguous: In a conflict, if a ceasefire is declared, both sides agree to refrain from engaging in further attacks. If one or both sides open fire, then the ceasefire has been broken. 

Alas, when it comes to Israel’s continued violations of the ceasefire, so much of the American press has taken to stretching the definition of ceasefire beyond recognition. Israel has rendered the ceasefire null and void by repeatedly killing Palestinians, but the media and press have invoked absurd terms to make it seem as if a ceasefire is still in place, even though Israel has killed hundreds of Palestinians since the ostensible ceasefire was put into place. 

It is unimaginable that if hundreds of Israelis continued to die after the ceasefire, the corporate and legacy media and press would pretend that a ceasefire was merely being tested, but is still enforceable. It is only the normalization of the killing of Palestinians that treats a lower threshold of daily killing as still a state of ceasefire, as if Palestinian deaths are a normal state of affairs. 

There is no ceasefire, and the press should stop pretending otherwise: 

Washington Post: Israeli strikes kill at least 32 people in Gaza despite ceasefire 

Honest Headline: Ceasefire Collapses as Israeli Strikes Kill 32 in Gaza

NY Times: Deadly Attacks in Gaza Test Cease-Fire as Body of Another Captive Is Returned

Honest Headline: Israeli Attacks in Gaza Break Ceasefire as Captive’s Body Is Returned

NY Times: Israeli Strikes Kill at Least 25 in Gaza Amid Truce, Officials Say

Honest Headline: Israeli Strikes Kill 25 in Gaza as Truce Is Broken

CBS News: Israel says Gaza ceasefire back on after dozens of Palestinians killed in airstrikes

Honest Headline: Dozens Killed as Israel Claims Ceasefire Still in Effect