Advocacy Journalism and the Palestinian Crisis: Redefining the Role of Independent Media in Addressing the Palestine-Israeli Occupation

Advocacy journalism, recognized as a significant and influential style of reporting, has garnered substantial attention from journalists in recent decades, particularly in the context of conflicts and disputes. By positioning themselves as advocates for the oppressed, journalists utilizing this style aim to convey the lived experiences and perspectives of marginalized groups to a wider audience. As demonstrated by the experiences of the Vietnam, Iraq, and Arab Spring conflicts, advocacy journalism can contribute to significant shifts in the trajectory and outcomes of oppressive conflicts. In the specific context of Palestine, it is argued that this style of reporting has the potential to significantly alter the international community's engagement with this complex issue. This article, employing an analytical and descriptive approach with a documentary review methodology, examines the ways in which advocacy journalism can illuminate the multifaceted dimensions of the Israeli occupation in the era of new media. The core hypothesis of this research posits that advocacy journalism, by utilizing new and independent media platforms, can play a crucial role in accurately representing Palestinian narratives and challenging Western media narratives that often support Zionism and contribute to the distortion of global public opinion.