Articles omit Israel's repeated offers to convey aid to Gaza by land and do not cite violence by last year's flotilla passengers. Reuters coverage includes both points. Omission of repeated Israeli offers to deliver aid 'Israel accused of trying to intimidate Gaza flotilla journalists', by Conal Urquhart, published in yesterday's Guardian, framed the convoy's primary motivation as humanitarian, endorsing the contention of protesters that breaking Israel's naval blockade is the sole way of delivering aid to the territory. The article asserted: 'The ships are sailing to protest against Israeli restrictions on Gaza and to commemorate last year's flotilla, which was intercepted by the Israeli navy, who killed nine of the Turkish participants. 'Israel has restricted the supply of goods and the movement of individuals in Gaza since Hamas took control in 2007.' Tues. Jun. 28 2011 @ 16.06 - As second Gaza flotilla prepares to launch, accusations traded in the media over whether some activists plan to use chemicals against IDF soldiers. Accusations have been levelled against activists on the second Gaza flotilla that some of their number will be carrying sulphur with which to attack IDF troops involved in any attempt to board the vessel. Yesterday, the Jerusalem Post reported that the IDF claims to have obtained intelligence that some convoy participants plan to kill Israeli soldiers who board the vessel by throwing chemicals at them: 'New intelligence information obtained by Israel in recent days shows that participants of the flotilla planning to break Israel's sea blockade over the Gaza Strip later this week plan to kill IDF soldiers who board their ships. 'According to the information, some of the participants have prepared a number of sacks with sulphur, which they plan to pour on the soldiers as they board the vessels.' Mon. 27 Jun. 2011 @ 13.28 - Key flotilla organiser is alleged to be a Hamas operative wanted for financially supporting militant networks in the West Bank and Gaza. Mohammed Sawalha, a key organiser of the second flotilla which is set to attempt to break Israel's blockade of Gaza later this week, is alleged to be a Hamas operative with long-standing connections to the militant organisation. Last year's flotilla resulted in widespread media coverage and international condemnation when nine individuals aboard the Mavi Marmara were killed by Israeli soldiers. Israel maintained that its soldiers had acted in self-defence after being attacked by activists from the controversial Turkish Islamist charity IHH. Just Journalism has already analysed how early coverage in the British media has begun presenting an inaccurate narrative of peaceful organisers, contrasted with Israel's belligerency. Tues. 28 Jun. 2011 @ 16.01 - Financial Times and Guardian's Datablog highlight US state department report on human trafficking, placing Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Lebanon, Yemen and Libya in worst category. As Just Journalism reported last week, the British media has been giving rare coverage to the issue of migrant workers' rights in Saudi Arabia, following the beheading of an Indonesian maid and the sentencing to death of another. The Indonesian government responded by announcing a moratorium on travel to the country for domestic work. 'US raps Gulf allies over human trafficking' by Guy Dinmore for the Financial Times reports on the release of the Trafficking in Persons Report 2011 which puts Saudi Arabia in the lowest category (Tier 3). Tier 3 countries are designated as such if they 'do not comply with the minimum standards and are not making significant efforts to do so.'
June 28, 2011 Media Analysis Guardian and Independent coverage of second flotilla omits key facts
The Wire Gaza flotilla 2011: Israeli media reports sulphur accusations
The Wire Gaza flotilla 2011: Key organiser is alleged Hamas operative
The Wire FT and Guardian highlight human trafficking report; Saudi Arabia among worst offenders
Thursday, 30 June 2011
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