Palestinian Resistance News Network’s Media Guide

by Black Ink

Editor’s note: We share here a media guide produced in Palestine by the Resistance News Network.

“Never spread the occupation’s propaganda, and do not contribute to instilling a sense of defeat. This must be focused on, for soon we will start talking about a massive invasion in Beit Lahia and Al-Nusseirat, for example. Never spread panic; be supportive of the resistance and do not spread any news broadcast by the occupation (forget about the ethics and impartiality of journalism; just as the zionist journalist is a fighter, so are you).” —Basil Al Araj

The Resistance News Network shares this collaborative and unified guidance by Palestinian grassroots media organizers to leaders, organizations, media outlets, as well as organizations and individuals standing in solidarity to critically and accurately convey a consistent line regarding the current events in occupied Palestine.

This undertaking is in response to requests from industry reporters, editors, and producers who are seeking resources and authentic Palestinian perspectives. Industry reporters have access to a list of Palestinian sources, and these are underutilized for clear reasons of slanted propaganda. Hence if the below are not conveyed in the coverage of events in occupied Palestine, it is safe to ascertain the positionality of that media platform. This is not an exhaustive list of guidelines and resources, and RNN expects these recommendations to evolve as events evolve.

Section 1: Operation Al-Aqsa Flood and the Broader Context

Remember the broader context of Operation Al-Aqsa Flood as an event that manifested from prior conditions, namely, that: it comes from the Joint Operations Room in Gaza that is composed of many different factions, religions, and political ideologies yet united in princi- ples of liberation, goals, and tactics. This Joint Operations Room is accountable to a transnational formation called the Unity of the Fields. The conditions of Gaza and all Palestinians in the camps throughout the West Bank, Lebanon, Syria, and Jordan, as well as those exiled, is manifested by over a century of settler colonialism that the United Kingdom and the United States have supported alongside NATO, the European Union, and others.

The Joint Operations Room has constantly warned against zionist violence, abduction of hostages, sieges, murder, and other atrocities for years now that have afflicted people throughout occupied Palestine, while the Unity of the Fields has amplified these warnings as people in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Iran, Armenia, and elsewhere have also been attacked by zionists. Despite these warnings, zionist leaders have continued their violent aggressions.

Section 2: Palestinian Liberation and the Zionist Entity

Anti-zionism means the dismantlement of the zionist entity. Anti-zionism does not mean post zionism, or that the “two sides” are “equal.” It is never over until imperialism is over. It is not over until all land, from the river to the sea, has been returned to the indigenous Palestinians and the occupation has been totally dismantled. It is never over until imperialism is over.

It is referred to as the zionist entity or “israel” because it is a colony. The name of Palestine and all of the Palestinian villages are the permanent names and will never be erased. This is how Palestinians refer to their ancestral lands and villages after zionists ethnically cleansed the area in 1948.

The zionist entity encourages and rewards settlements with the support of the US, Europe, Ukraine, and elsewhere despite warnings from the Joint Operation Room, with even the U.S. issuing soft statements of staged accountability to the degenerate terms of the Oslo concessions, against the implications of settlement expansion. To Palestinians, the entirety of the zionist entity is a settlement.

Equality is NOT the cause of Palestinian liberation. There is no potential equality between the colonized and colonizer. The Palestinian liberation movement seeks the complete return of ancestral homeland and the return of its people to this land. Palestinians do not view this as a movement of “equality,” or ending “apartheid.” Liberal zionists and their lobbies hope Palestinians buy into this agenda but it is wholly rejected.

The zionist entity currently holds over 5,000 hostages in the occupation prisons, including women and children. It tortures them, abuses them, sexually assaults them, withholds medical treatment, trials experimental substances on them, and is slowly murdering them.

Section 3: Understanding Resistance

The resistance of Palestinians against violent settler colonialism is valid and it is not the role of any journalist or figure to decry this response, but rather to understand its manifestations. The right to resist via armed struggle is enshrined in international law (UN Res 45/130). However, it does not need Western law nor institutions for validation as this only centers the role of empire, colonialism, and capitalism. The Palestinian movement for liberation is against these institutions. This movement for self autonomy is inherent to the years long strategic formation of the Joint Operations Room in Gaza, the grassroots resistance throughout the occupied West Bank, the mobilization of Palestinians in historical occupied Palestine, and Palestinians everywhere.

This is NOT a sudden war. This is a long and steadfast resistance movement against settler colonialism: The resistance has been consistent since the British invasion of Palestine and onward against settler colonialism.

The Palestinian Authority is not an official government and does not represent the people. It is a product of US imperialism and the conciliatory Oslo Accords.

Section 4: Settler Colonialism and Accountability

“Israelis” are only victim to their own supremacist free-will and bad choices: All “israelis” are settlers and as settlers they partake in the risks associated with stealing land and resources. There is no such thing as an innocent settler. Zionists often have dual citizenship and easily enjoy access to the United States, while people in Gaza and the West Bank are trapped behind partition walls, military watchtowers, and surveillance mechanisms. All zionists, with very few exceptions, must serve.

Section 5: Media Framing and Engagement

Framing this as Hamas–“israel” is intentional to lend towards Islamophobic campaigns, which currently have resorted to calling Palestinians “barbaric” and “terrorists,” terms that have been used against Palestinians and Arabs throughout their resistance journey. The revival of these terms is indicative of colonial insecurity to frame the native Palestinian as a caricature. The resistance is shoulder to shoulder, from Marxist to Islamist factions, responding to the call of Al-Qassam Brigades’ commander-in-chief Mohammed Deif.

Refuse “both sides” framing, because this is a severe power and resource imbalance. Zionists have nuclear capabilities and space weaponry and have been gladly selling and sharing this with other repressive movements around the world.

Framing the victim must center settler colonialism: Cries of victimhood from zionists and their apologetic allies often arise from their own internal contradictions. A sound journalist must explore these contradictions, whether related to class, identity, or other forms of self interest.

Framing the hero must center settler colonialism.

This has never been a “holy war.”

Palestinians are Palestinian: “Arab israeli” is an offensive label and should not be used. It erases Palestinian identity and confuses Palestinians with “Mizrahi” and Sephardic settlers. “Palestinian citizens of israel” is often intentional- ly used to whitewash the zionist regime as seemingly democratic, when Palestinians who are occupied often face constant harassment, policing, and exploitation. It is important to note that Palestinians are unified across religion and region, and usage of skin-tone identity is typically a Western framing. One must also be careful of how they label a Palestinian in the West, as “American-Palestinian” is not chosen and serves as a compliance label to imperialism. Palestinians are not in the West willingly, and their aspiration to return home, across generations, is important to respect in any interview.

Interview and center Palestinians on the ground as a priority since Palestinians are often spoken over or spoken for by insidious actors.

Section 6: Normalization, Humanitarianism, and Safety

Normalization means recognizing or engaging with the zionist entity in any form.

Normalization is treasonous and any suggestion of engaging with zionists is considered norming the abuser.

Organizations may claim a humanitarian approach but must be examined for their funders, as many who claim to uphold Palestinian life do so to identify vulnerable Palestinians to exploit them. Organizations under the umbrella of New Israel Fund and Foundation for Middle East Peace must be referenced carefully with this in mind, as they often reflect normalization agendas.

Be mindful of safety for Palestinians in the West should they be interviewed, as they are constantly surveilled, threatened, and blacklisted for any expression. Offer to allow anonymous positions, to blur out their photos, or to use false names to keep them safe from harassment and threats.

Be mindful of photos and video from actions and protests as these are often leveraged against Palestinians when they return to Palestine, when applying for jobs or schools, and even when trying to purchase homes. Seek permission before you photograph from organizers or individuals and provide options of safety.

Glory to the martyrs.
Freedom for the prisoners.
Healing to the wounded.
Disgrace on the traitors.
Victory to the resistance.