Reflections of the Palestinian-Israeli War in Western Media: The Case of Thomson Reuters

The Palestinian-Israeli conflict has long been a central issue in the Middle East, with global resonance and significant media reflections. Western media often claim neutrality, but are criticized for ignoring power imbalances and presenting news largely from an Israel-centric perspective, highlighting Israel’s security concerns while downplaying Palestinian suffering. International media organizations play a key role in shaping global perceptions, yet ownership and control are concentrated in Western companies, which shape news policies based on political, ideological, and cultural values. This study examines how Thomson Reuters, one of the world’s most influential international news agencies, covered the Palestinian-Israeli war beginning on October 7, 2023. Using content analysis, news published between October 7, 2023, and January 7, 2024, were analyzed in terms of language, themes, visuals, tone, and emphasis. Findings highlight the role of media ownership and reveal how Western-origin international media shape narratives on Middle Eastern conflicts, contributing to future research on war journalism and media studies.