UK Journalists Criticized for Failing to Cover Gaza Accurately Amid Genocide Claims

May 12, 2025 – Palestine/Israel –

Independent MPs in the UK have sharply criticized members of the parliamentary press lobby for their perceived failure to adequately report on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, accusing mainstream journalists of ignoring or downplaying what has been described as a genocide. In a striking act of protest on May 10, a group led by former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn distributed a handbook titled Journalism in a Genocide to political reporters at Westminster, calling on them to reassess their professional responsibilities.

The handbook, created by the media watchdog Declassified UK, outlines ethical practices for covering mass atrocities and criticizes British media for allegedly repeating official government narratives without sufficient scrutiny. The move was intended to highlight what the MPs and press freedom advocates view as a serious failure in accountability and truth-telling by major news organizations during the ongoing Israel-Gaza conflict.

According to the MPs, the UK press has failed to independently verify or challenge the government’s support for Israel’s military actions, which have led to widespread civilian casualties and mass displacement in Gaza. They argue that this lack of critical reporting contributes to public misinformation and diminishes the role of journalism in preventing or exposing crimes against humanity.

Journalists in the lobby were reportedly caught off guard by the directness of the gesture. The handbook questioned why the press has not rigorously investigated arms sales, government complicity, or war crimes allegations, and it called on reporters to foreground Palestinian voices more prominently.

Media commentators have expressed mixed reactions. Supporters of the MPs’ move argue that holding the press to account is essential in times of war and that journalists must be vigilant in challenging state narratives. Critics, however, warn that such actions may risk alienating reporters or overstepping the boundary between political activism and press freedom.

The incident has reignited debates in the UK over the media’s independence, transparency, and responsibility during times of international crisis, with broader implications for how war and human rights violations are reported globally.

Reference – 

Press lobby handed ‘journalism in a genocide’ handbooks by Corbyn group

Independent MPs Shame Lobby Journalists for Not Doing Their Jobs in the Face of Genocide

Breaking: independent MPs give ‘mainstream’ journalists instruction book on how to do their job