The Taiwanese Media Coverage of the attack on Gaza Published by 28th December. 2012
During the attack on Gaza, there were at least 162 Palestinian deaths and over 1000 injuries in the period 14 to 21 November 2012;[i] while on the other hand, the Israelis suffered 6 deaths and 222 injuries[ii]. Judging by the media coverage in Taiwan over the past weeks, the conflict seemed to be an equal one. According to this coverage from the media of Taiwan, the two belligerents (Israel and Hamas) are made out to have the same military capacity, attempting to destroy one another. Further, Israel seems to have been the sole actor during the confrontation, and the indication is that the strong defensive ‘Iron Dome’ intercepted the ‘powerful’ rockets from Gaza; and that desperate Israeli citizens, accepting their fate, desperately ran to the shelters under frequent air raid siren. But this coverage misses the point. The reality is that Gaza has been under attack from indiscriminate Israeli air-strikes and the blockade since 2007, and this important background has escaped the Taiwanes...