Sameera Casmod | sameerac@radioislam.co.za
16 October 2024 | 15:30 SAST
2-minute read

“Ruling elites use their control of the media to ensure conformity and compliance and to stifle dissent by one means or another.” – McQuail 2010:436.

The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) issued a statement in support of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) in the wake of Israel’s recent spate of attacks on the peacekeeping mission in southern Lebanon.

On Sunday, after the entrance door of a UN position was deliberately breached by Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) armoured vehicles, the UN Secretary General emphasised that the security and safety of UN personnel property must be guaranteed.

UNIFIL was established to patrol the country’s southern frontier after Israel’s invasion in 1978 and operates from 29 positions in the area. Its role is to prevent disturbances in civil order between Lebanon and Israel by monitoring both Lebanese and Israeli military activity across the 120km “blue line”.

However, analysts have suggested that UNIFIL has objectives beyond its stated mission of maintaining peace and security and have indicated that the mission is a tool of western countries, especially France and the United States, to exert political influence in Lebanon and the wider Middle East. According to this position, its presence is part of a broader geopolitical strategy to maintain control over Lebanon and reduce the influence of Iran and Syria, which support Hezbollah. There are also indications that UNIFIL’s operations provide cover for intelligence gathering on behalf of western governments.

The agency has thus far said its peacekeeping forces will stay in its positions in southern Lebanon despite Netanyahu’s call to evacuate combat areas.

Speaking to Radio Islam International on this week’s edition of the Media Lens, Hafidh Ibrahim Deen says that Israel might have targeted UNIFIL to prevent them from documenting military atrocities in southern Lebanon as it attempts to re-occupy parts of the area, especially since its actions violate UN resolutions and international law.

This is further reinforced by the fact that Israel has directly and deliberately attacked journalists in Gaza over the past year to control reports of the genocide.

International media coverage of the conflict has varied, with many western outlets focusing on the attacks on UN peacekeepers while downplaying the broader civilian death toll. In contrast, Arab and regional media outlets have provided more comprehensive coverage, highlighting the toll on Lebanese civilians.

While there does appear to be a shift in the media coverage of events towards more objective and factual accounts, Hafidh Deen emphasises the lack of context that is given in news stories.

“There still continues to be the lack of context as to the peacekeepers, as to why they are there, as to previous attacks from Israel, and also as to the fact that the peacekeeprs just a few days ago monitored 1 500 incidences of cross-border fire,” Hafidh Deen said, adding that 93% of the attacks are from Israel to Lebanon, while the remaining 7% is retaliatory.

Listen to the Media Lens with Moulana Junaid Kharsany on Sabaahul Muslim.