Mehdi Hasan delivers powerful speech at Wembley, accuses media of failing Gaza journalists
London: Award-winning British-American journalist Mehdi Hasan delivered a powerful and emotional speech at a packed Wembley Arena, where over 13,000 people had gathered for the ‘Together For Palestine’ fundraising concert. Hasan, the CEO and editor-in-chief of the media company Zeteo, used the platform to highlight what he described as the systematic silencing of Palestinian voices and the failure of Western journalism in covering the ongoing violence in Gaza.
Speaking to thunderous applause, Hasan said that for the last 23 months the world has been misled and manipulated, not only by Israel but also by the mainstream media in the West. He accused international outlets of failing in their duty to tell the full story of the “genocide in Gaza” and said it angered him when people demanded that Israel should allow more journalists into the besieged territory.
“Yes, Israel should. But Western media must stop acting as if there aren’t already journalists in Gaza,” Hasan said. “The bravest journalists in the world are in Gaza right now – Palestinian journalists.”
Hasan drew attention to the staggering number of journalists who have lost their lives in Gaza since the escalation of violence. He said 270 Palestinian journalists had been killed, a figure that, according to him, exceeded the number of journalists killed in World War I, World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War and the Iraq War combined.
“These journalists were not killed by accident, they were not collateral damage,” Hasan declared. “They were killed as part of Israel’s deliberate campaign to blind the world and erase evidence of its crimes.”
He went on to name several slain journalists, including Anas al-Sharif, Hossam Shabbat, Maryam Abu Dhaka, Roshdi Siraj, Muhammad Abu Hattab – who died along with 11 members of his family – and Bilal Jadallah. Hundreds of others, Hasan said, would never be remembered on platforms like CNN or the BBC.
Strongly criticising the silence of his peers, Hasan said, “Shame on those Western journalists who have not uttered a single word about the mass killing of their Palestinian counterparts.” He added that Palestinian journalists were “the best of us” because they were not only documenting a war but also their own annihilation and starvation in real time.
In one of the most striking moments of his speech, Hasan led the Wembley crowd in chanting: “You can’t bomb the truth away.” The audience repeated the slogan several times, filling the arena with a defiant chorus.
Hasan urged people worldwide to carry forward the work of the fallen journalists, not with fear or silence, but with courage, loud voices, and resistance. “Every fallen journalist leaves behind their footage, their words, their example. Let us honour their sacrifice not with despair, but with defiance,” he said.
Ending his speech on a note of solidarity and hope, Hasan addressed the journalists who died in Gaza: “Your voices are our voices. Your struggle is our struggle. And your truth will not die.”
He also sent a strong message to Israel, its allies, and sections of the media: “You will not silence Gaza. You will not silence Palestine. You will not silence the truth. And one day soon, Palestine will be free.”
The speech was met with a standing ovation, with many in the audience visibly moved by Hasan’s words. The Wembley gathering was one of the largest solidarity events for Palestine in recent times, combining fundraising with calls for justice and international accountability.
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Human-wildlife conflict: Karnataka minister calls for sterilisation of select species
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Minister Eshwar Khandre on Wednesday said that rising human-wildlife conflict has created a need to consider sterilising specific species, and that the issue should be publicly debated.
He clarified that no decision has been made so far and that discussions will be held with officials and stakeholders.
"There is an increase in the number of select wildlife. In my opinion, putting some curbs on their numbers is necessary due to increased conflicts, loss of lives, and urbanisation. So there is a proposal to conduct sterilisation surgery or vaccination on select wildlife," Minister for Forest, Ecology and Environment said.
Speaking to reporters, he added that no list has been prepared yet and that he plans to hold discussions on the matter with senior officials.
Noting that a related issue is pending before the Supreme Court, the minister said there are plans to submit a proposal after due deliberation.
"We intend to protect wildlife while ensuring that human lives are not lost. No decision has been made yet; it is still under consideration. In areas with a high number of wildlife, we are thinking about controlling it for a year or two. Other states are considering similar measures. There is a need for public debate on this," he added.
Khandre also said the government is seriously considering the voluntary relocation of forest dwellers who wish to move out of the forest. He has asked officials to prepare a list of those willing to relocate.
"Once the list is ready, I will discuss the required funding with the chief minister (Siddaramaiah), who also serves as Finance Minister, and the government will make a decision. Relocating forest dwellers will expand wildlife habitats and integrate those living without basic facilities into mainstream society," he said.
Expressing grief over the death of a coffee grower in Kodagu district due to a wild elephant attack on Wednesday, the minister said the government and the department are making every effort to prevent human-elephant conflict and assured that the government stands with the bereaved family in this difficult time.
"The government had planned to build a sanctuary to address the problem of elephants. There are some difficulties in obtaining permission from the central government. Once this is resolved, action will be taken to establish the sanctuary," he added.
