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Gaza Through Israeli Eyes in the French Media

An investigative study published by Al-Araby Al-Jadeed under the title “French Media: Israel’s Voice Echoes Through Newsrooms”, based on monitoring the editorial performance of several prominent French media outlets, revealed significant disparities in coverage of the war in Gaza, particularly on France Info TV and in the newspaper Le Parisien.

According to the investigation, the findings highlighted substantial differences in the amount of media coverage allocated to Israeli and Palestinian voices, the terminology used in reporting on the war, and the declining attention given to developments on the ground and legal proceedings related to the war in Gaza.

Unequal Representation

According to France Info TV's broadcasting records from September 2024 to June 2026, the network hosted Israel's ambassador to France, Joshua Zarka, 24 times through studio appearances, talk shows, and radio interviews.

In contrast, Palestine's ambassador to France, Hala Abou Hassira, appeared only once via a live video connection lasting no more than four minutes and 20 seconds. According to the investigation, her appearance was interrupted by the presenter, who subsequently questioned some of her statements after she left the screen.

Regarding analysts and correspondents, the study documented 67 appearances by journalist and former deputy Israeli ambassador Rina Bassist, compared with just 10 remote contributions by Palestinian correspondent Rami Abou Jamous during the same period.

In print journalism, an analysis of Le Parisien covering January 16 to February 6, 2026, revealed that Israeli sources and figures accounted for 89% of all quotations published in the newspaper.

The investigation found that the newspaper featured 69 Israeli individuals, whose personal stories were mentioned 239 times, compared with only nine Palestinian individuals, whose names appeared 15 times.

Terminology and Editorial Policies

The investigation highlighted differences in the journalistic terminology used across television broadcasts and newspaper articles. Israeli detainees or captives were almost exclusively described as "hostages," while Palestinians held in detention were referred to as "prisoners."

It also reported that an accidental editorial error on a news ticker, which used the phrase "Palestinian hostages," allegedly resulted in the immediate suspension of the editor-in-chief.

According to the investigation, guests and politicians were warned or reprimanded by presenters for using terms such as "genocide," while statements issued by the Israeli military were reportedly broadcast without being subjected to the same level of editorial scrutiny or verification.

The analysis indicated that Le Parisien avoided terms such as "international law" and "settlements," replacing them with expressions such as "the humanitarian failure in Gaza."

The investigation also documented the repeated use of the term "terrorist" to describe Hamas fighters, while comparable negative descriptions were largely absent when referring to Israeli soldiers.

Extent of Coverage

According to the investigation, France Info TV recorded a 92% decline in mentions of the word "Gaza" between October 2025 and June 2026.

The investigation also noted the absence of major French media organizations from International Court of Justice hearings in The Hague concerning the use of starvation as a method of warfare and attacks targeting the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).

According to the report, some newsrooms attributed this lack of coverage to "budget constraints" and the slow pace of judicial proceedings.

An analysis of Le Parisien's front pages found that 15 covers had been devoted to Israel and issues involving hostages since September 2024, compared with just five covers focusing on Gaza. The investigation stated that most of the Gaza-related covers did not include images illustrating the scale of destruction or the suffering of civilians.

The report further noted that several developments it considered critical received little prominence, including the plan to besiege northern Gaza and the arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court.

Editorial Differences

In its introduction, Al-Araby Al-Jadeed described the media as a "parallel battlefield," where narratives are shaped and perceptions influencing public opinion are formed.

Based on its monitoring of French media organizations, including France Info TV and Le Parisien, the investigation concluded that significant disparities existed in the representation of Israeli and Palestinian narratives and the amount of coverage allocated to each.

It argued that these disparities extended beyond ordinary differences in editorial judgment.

The report also noted that major French media outlets did not give certain legal developments concerning the war in Gaza the same level of attention as other issues. According to the investigation, contributing factors included budget shortages, lengthy judicial procedures, and the political sensitivity of certain matters.

Study Conclusions

The study's findings point to clear disparities in how the French media organizations examined covered the war in Gaza. These differences were reflected in the representation of sources and individuals, the selection of terminology, and the prioritization of news coverage.

The findings raise questions about the editorial standards applied when reporting on the war and the extent to which these practices affect the French public's ability to access a balanced and comprehensive understanding of the military, humanitarian, and legal developments associated with it.