The New York Times has once again proved itself to be complicit in a uniquely horrific crime, this time through the twisted journalism of columnist Bret Stephens. In his latest column, Stephens attempts to downplay the severity of Israel’s actions in Gaza, claiming that critics who accuse Israel of committing genocide are overusing the term.
Stephens demands to know why the Israeli government’s intentions and actions are not deemed genocidal, despite the near-comprehensive destruction of the Gaza Strip. He cites the official Palestinian death count of nearly 60,000 in less than two years and wonders why it is not higher.
However, Stephens fails to acknowledge that slaughtering 17,400 children in Gaza is no small matter. A study published in the Lancet medical journal found that the true death toll in Gaza could exceed 186,000. He also ignores the fact that Israel has been working to disappear the Palestinians physically and conceptually since its inception.
Stephens’ criticism of critics who accuse Israel of genocide is not only absurd but also hypocritical. He himself fails to acknowledge the historical context of Israel’s existence as a Jewish settler-colonial state, which is predicated on the intent to destroy a national group.
The New York Times has long been in bed with Israeli interests and sanitizes its atrocities as self-defence. Stephens’ genocidal journalism is part of this larger effort to distort the truth and protect Israel’s actions.
Despite his claims that critics are overusing the term, Stephens himself uses it loosely, without providing any concrete evidence to support his assertions. His article is a prime example of how The New York Times is committed to whitewashing Israeli atrocities and perpetuating genocidal journalism.
Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2025/7/23/yes-the-new-york-times-is-committing-genocidal-journalism