Gaza conflict creates 'new reality' in Middle East, says Al Jazeera chairman

HANOI — A "new reality" has taken hold in the Middle East following Israeli actions in the Gaza Strip, Al Jazeera Board Chairman Sheikh Hamad Bin Thamer Al Thani said during the opening of the Al Jazeera Forum.

Al Thani characterized Israel’s military operations as a "genocide against Palestinians." He noted that this shift in the regional landscape has emerged directly from the ongoing violence in the territory.

The chairman also highlighted the heavy toll on the press, stating that Al Jazeera reporters have been killed in the line of duty while working to expose the realities of the conflict.

The remarks by Sheikh Hamad Bin Thamer Al Thani transcend mere media commentary, signaling a deliberate alignment with the foreign policy objectives of Qatar, Al Jazeera’s primary benefactor. The strategic deployment of the term "genocide" represents a calculated effort to pivot global public opinion and escalate diplomatic pressure on Israel and its international allies.

This "new reality" cited by Al Thani reflects a volatile shift in the regional landscape, characterized by recalibrated alliances, the ascending influence of non-state actors, and a deepening global polarization over the Palestinian issue. Al Jazeera has long functioned as a primary architect of political discourse across the Arab world; by highlighting the fatalities among its own journalists, the network is reinforcing its dual status as a frontline witness and a victim of the hostilities. This positioning serves to bolster the perceived legitimacy of its reporting on the international stage.

Ultimately, the statement signals that Doha will continue to utilize its media apparatus as a soft-power instrument to challenge Western narratives. By doing so, Qatar is consolidating its role as the leading diplomatic and media voice for the Arab and Islamic perspectives in a shifting global order.