Israeli intelligence accuses a UN refugee agency of collusion with Hamas – and the media take it at face value.
Israel has for years been claiming that the United Nations refugee agency (UNRWA) is in cahoots with Hamas. The latest allegations – which coincided with the International Court of Justice’s order for Israel to prevent genocide – bear the hallmarks of a distraction tactic. So far, the media have taken the bait.

Contributors:
Diana Buttu – Palestinian lawyer
Tal Mimran – Former Israeli government adviser
Abdaljawad Omar – Academic, Birzeit University
Kenneth Roth – Former executive director, Human Rights Watch

On our radar
Last month, a New York Times investigation carried Israeli allegations of sexual violence by Hamas during its October 7 attacks. Meenakshi Ravi explains why that story is being called into question.

Germany’s ‘Palestine exception’ to free speech
Historical guilt and the stifling of pro-Palestinian dissent in Germany.

Contributors:
Hebh Jamal – Palestinian journalist
Hanno Hauenstein – Journalist and former editor, Berliner Zeitung
Wieland Hoban – Chair, Jewish Voice for Peace

Israeli intelligence accuses a UN refugee agency of collusion with Hamas – and the media take it at face value. Israel has for years been claiming that the United Nations refugee agency (UNRWA) is in cahoots with Hamas. The latest allegations – which coincided with the International Court of Justice’s order for Israel to prevent genocide – bear the hallmarks of a distraction tactic. So far, the media have taken the bait. Contributors: Diana Buttu – Palestinian lawyer Tal Mimran – Former Israeli government adviser Abdaljawad Omar – Academic, Birzeit University Kenneth Roth – Former executive director, Human Rights Watch On our radar Last month, a New York Times investigation carried Israeli allegations of sexual violence by Hamas during its October 7 attacks. Meenakshi Ravi explains why that story is being called into question. Germany’s ‘Palestine exception’ to free speech Historical guilt and the stifling of pro-Palestinian dissent in Germany. Contributors: Hebh Jamal – Palestinian journalist Hanno Hauenstein – Journalist and former editor, Berliner Zeitung Wieland Hoban – Chair, Jewish Voice for Peace

A weekly programme that examines and dissects the world's media, how they operate and the stories they cover.