Analyzing Western Media Narratives on Israel Attack on Gaza- Palestine: a Critical Discourse Analysis

Abstract

After the events of October 7, 2023, it became evident that Western media sources began perpetuating stereotypes about the people of Gaza, serving the interests of the Israeli agenda, in particular, and Western countries, in general. This research aims to analyze the discursive strategies utilized by Western media in shaping the conflict narrative and to expose biases and stereotypes against Palestinians. Data for analysis is sourced from six prominent Western media such as Fox News, The BBC, The Wall Street Journal report, The Guardian, and NBC News. Employing Van Dijk's (1998) Socio-Cognitive approach, the researcher examines headlines and lead paragraphs. The findings indicate a positive portrayal of Israelis contrasted with a negative representation of Palestinians