The ongoing conflicts in Syria and the periodic clashes between Israel and Hamas in Gaza have exposed a glaring difference in global attention and response. Despite the Syrian conflict claiming over 500,000 lives and displacing millions since 2011, the world’s reaction has remained notably restrained. In contrast, the Israel-Hamas confrontations, with significantly lower death tolls, routinely incite passionate condemnation and receive extensive media coverage.
Understanding this contrast requires examining several key factors that have contributed to this discrepancy.
Antisemitism and Global Left Bias
This disproportionate focus stems from several factors. Antisemitism among elements of the global left predisposes many to harshly criticize Israeli counter-terrorism operations while ignoring vastly higher casualties from the Assad regime. This predisposition fosters a skewed perception of the Israel-Hamas conflict.
Role of Russia and the Islamic Republic in Iran
Russia and the Islamic Republic in Iran play a pivotal role in both conflicts. In the case of Syria, they have steadfastly supported Bashar al-Assad, providing military aid that has led to devastating attacks on civilian areas. Additionally, they promote antisemitic narratives and conspiracies that frame Israel as the aggressor against Hamas. These narratives have helped deflect attention from the Assad regime’s atrocities.
Simultaneously, Russia and the Islamic Republic in Iran support Hamas, a terrorist organization that has employed tactics like using human shields and manipulating casualty counts, generating outrage at Israel. This manipulation of information has contributed to the disproportionate global attention on the Israel-Hamas conflict.
Assad, ISIS, and Western Inaction
Russia and the Islamic Republic in Iran have backed Assad militarily while portraying the conflict as a choice between him and ISIS extremists. This propaganda distracts from Assad’s brutality, creating a false dichotomy. Meanwhile, the West’s inaction on Syria has been a point of concern, as it has failed to protect human rights despite astronomically higher death tolls under Assad compared to the Israel-Hamas conflict.
Human Costs
It is essential to recognize the human toll of both conflicts. The Syrian war has seen orders of magnitude higher casualties than even the most intense Israel-Hamas fighting. The combination of antisemitism, propagandistic narratives by Russia and Iran, and Western inaction on Syria has led to dramatically disproportionate attention on Gaza. More balanced, context-focused analysis is needed to serve truth and compassion for all victims.
