Representing the legal aspects of the October 2023 conflict in Gaza on the Instagram pages of BBC Farsi and Iran International

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 شیراز-ساحلی غربی-کوچه20-فرعی 4-مجتمع اساتید-واحد44

2 Shiraz University

Abstract

The most significant event of the 20th century is arguably the emergence of the Internet phenomenon, creating a direct communication network among people worldwide. This development has and will continue to bring about changes in the course of time that are incomparable to other events of this period, including world wars. Expanding the scope of virtual communication through social networks has become a key factor influencing political and legal developments both domestically and internationally. With the proliferation of social media in recent years, this emerging discourse has solidified its position and connected a global audience across borders. Events in the political and international arena are now intertwined with developments in the Internet realm and major global social networks like Instagram. One notable event in 2023 was the conflict between Gaza and Israel.




 




This study aims to explore how the Gaza conflict was portrayed in the legal and media landscapes through the Instagram accounts of BBC Persian and Iran International. The analysis covers posts from the start of Operation Al-Aqsa on October 7, 2023, to the end of that month. The hypothesis posited in this article considers the quantitative and qualitative dimensions of Instagram posts by BBC Persian and Iran International regarding the Gaza conflict. It suggests that these media outlets may represent Hamas as a terrorist group and portray Israel as justified in exercising "legitimate defense." Furthermore, the posts on Iran International's Instagram page not only depict Hamas as a terrorist group but also highlight the role of the resistance axis, particularly the Islamic Republic of Iran, in supporting Hamas and intervening territorially in the Gaza conflict.
To evaluate this hypothesis effectively, the study employs the media Representation theory by British sociologist Stuart Hall as a theoretical framework. Hall's theory emphasizes the interplay of Representation, Production, Consumption, Identity, and Regulation in the cultural cycle. Hall's concept of Representation explores the connections between Meaning, Language, and Culture. He categorizes Representation into Reflective, Constructive, and Intentional interpretations, highlighting strategies like Stereotyping and Naturalization. These strategies can lead to polarization and radical separation between different groups.
The study examines how the Representation of the Gaza conflict in October 2023 on the Instagram pages of BBC Persian and Iran International focused on legal metaphors. The analysis reveals that the main metaphors in these posts were tailored to influence the audience's mindset, aligning with the media's Representation Project. Out of a total of 3,833 posts on both media pages during the specified period, 1,825 posts (about 47.6%) were related to the Gaza conflict, while 1,428 posts (about 37.1%) were related to Iran. Analyzing these posts yielded key qualitative components and statistical data along specific conceptual axes.
The study's findings highlighted four main axes of Representation in the Instagram posts of both media outlets. Firstly, there was an emphasis on Hamas's high violence in violation of conflict laws, contrasting with humanitarian rights principles breached by repeated Israeli attacks and civilian casualties. Secondly, there was a focus on Israel's right to legitimate defense by portraying Hamas as a terrorist group. However, the analysis notes the need for proportional responses in line with international law, even in response to Hamas's military actions. The third axis addressed territorial intervention in the Gaza conflict by Iran and other supporting actors, a claim denied by Iranian officials and lacking substantial evidence according to some foreign officials like US President Joe Biden. Lastly, the Representation analysis highlighted the diminishing legal legitimacy of Hamas among the people of Gaza, with some opinions framing Hamas's actions within the legal rules of armed conflict against colonial domination and foreign occupation.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

Ademola, A. (2014). International Law (Text, Cases, and Materials). London: Oxford University Press.
Atuonwu, C, et al(2021). Hamas: A case study of international terrorism, Port Harcourt Journal Of History & Diplomatic Studies, 8(3),15-32.
Bahreyni, Sh, Hosseini, M. (2018). Language and Representation of Culture in Stuart Hall's Theory, Cognition Philosophical two Quarterly, No. 1/79, Fall and Winter, 7-22.[In Persian]
bbcpersian [@bbcpersian]. (2023, October). Conflict between Israel and Gaza. Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/bbcpersian/.
Bigdeloo, M, Motaghi, E. (2022). Measuring the capacity of virtual networks in Iran's social and political environment (Instagram case study), Iranian Political Sociology Monthly, 5(11), 3908-3926.[In Persian]
Dahlgren, P. (1995). Television and the public domain of civil society and mass media, translated by Mehdi Shafghati, Tehran: Soroush.[In Persian]
Danesi, M. (2009). Dictionary of Media and Communications. New York: M.e. Sharpe, Inc.
Ghaedi, M.R, Golshani, A. R. (2016). Content Analysis Method: from Quantity-Orientation to Quality-Orientation, Psychological Methods and Models Quarterly, 7(23), 57-82. [In Persian]
Habibi, H, Ramezani, S. (2014). Legal Status of Voluntary Human Shield in International Humanitarian Law, Public Law Research Quarterly, 16(45), 76-103. [In Persian]
Hamraz, V. (2020). Phenomenological analysis of Persian historical pages in Instagram social network with media literacy approach, Media Quarterly, 31(4), 5-24. [In Persian]
International Court of  Justice (1986) Judgment of 27 June 1986 (seen: November 2023).
in: https://www.icj-cij.org/node/103143.
IHL Databases, (2024a) Protocol Additional to the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949, and relating to the Protection of Victims of International Armed Conflicts (Protocol I), 8 June 1977, Retrieved from:
https://ihl-databases.icrc.org/en/ihl-treaties/api-1977.
IHL Databases, (2024b) The Public Committee against Torture in Israel et al. v. The Government of Israel et al, Supreme Court of Israel, 14 December 2006, Retrieved from:
https://ihl-databases.icrc.org/en/national-practice/public-committee-against-torture-israel-et-al-v-government-israel-et-al-supreme.
iranintltv [@iranintltv]. (2023, October). Conflict between Israel and Gaza. Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/iranintltv/
Jalali, M, Zabib, R. (2018). Evaluation of preventive legitimate defense against terrorism, Judicial Law Perspectives Quarterly, 23(82), 53-82. [In Persian]
Khamenei (2016). The revolutionary leader's proposed plan to solve the Palestinian issue (seen in: November 2023). In: https://farsi.khamenei.ir/others-note?id=33642. [In Persian]
The information base of the Office of Preservation and Publication of the Works of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei (2019). The full text of "The Plan for Holding a National Referendum in the Land of Palestine" (seen in November 2023). In: https://farsi.khamenei.ir/others-report?id=44834. [In Persian]
The information base of the Office of Preservation and Publication of the Works of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei (2023). Basijians meeting with the leader of the revolution (seen in November 2023). In: https://farsi.khamenei.ir/news-content?id=54512. [In Persian]
Kosha, H., Suleimanzadeh, A. R, Rostamzad, H. (2021). Investigation of violent actions in the Lod case (2021) in the occupied territories from the perspective of human rights, Islamic Human Rights Studies Quarterly, 10(2), 203-224. [In Persian]
Mirzaei, H., Parveen, A. (2010). Another Show: The place of the West in travelogues during the rise of constitutionalism, Cultural Research Quarterly, 3(9), 77-105. [In Persian]
MolaeiFard, M, Ashrafi, D, Zaheri, A.R. (2021). The basis of the International Court of Justice’s approach to the rules governing the responsibility of nonstate actors in international relations (case study: Nicaragua case verdict), Journal of legal research, 20(46), 323-303.[In Persian]
MollaAbbasi, M, JafariKafiabadi, S. (2022). News Media in the Social Networks Era: Polarization and Changing Nature of News Reporting (Semiotic Analysis of the BBC Farsi Instagram Page), Sociological Studies Quarterly, 29(1), 41-76.
[In Persian]
Mousavi, S.F.A, Lohrasbi, A. (2021). Legal bases for defending Hamas' defense capability in the armed conflict with the Zionist entity, Defense Management and Research Quarterly, 20(93), 31-53. [In Persian]
Murphy, S. (2005) Self-Defense and the Israeli Wall Advisory Opinion: An Ipse Dixit from the ICJ? The American Journal of International Law, 99(1), 62-76.
NBC NEWS(2023). Blinken says no 'direct evidence' that Iran was involved in the Hamas attack on Israel (seen: November 2023).
In: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/blinken-says-no-direct-evidence-iran-was-involved-hamas-attack-israel-rcna120110.
Noori, V.A, Zamani, S.Gh, (2018). Principle of proportionality and non-international armed conflicts, Public Law Research Quarterly, 19(58), 9-27.
[In Persian]
Noori, V.A, Zamani, S.Gh, Raei, M. (2019). Military Necessity as an Exception in Law of Armed Conflicts, Quarterly Journal of Public Law Studies, 49(3), 717-734.[In Persian]
Oberlo (2023). How Many People Use Instagram (2020–2025)? (seen: November 2023). In: https://www.oberlo.com/statistics/how-many-people-use-instagram
Panahi, A, Muhammadzadeh, A. A. (2016). Expression of Iranian Woman in French Travel Literature from the Eve of the Qajar Period until the Constitutional Revolution based on Stuart Hall’s Reception Theory, Cultural History Studies Quarterly, 7(27), 1-23.[In Persian]
Payandeh, H. (2013). Reflecting war in the media: Baudrillard's postmodern approach to media analysis, Quarterly Journal of the Iranian Association for Cultural and Communication Studies, 9(33),11-30.[In Persian]
Ramezani, R. (2021). An overview at the representation role of the media in international relations, Tehran: Dibakht.[In Persian]
Saadati, M, et al (2022). A comparative study of users' interaction with how to pay for news items on the Instagram page of IRIB and BBC Persian, Quarterly Journal of Culture-Communication Studies, 23(57), 149-174.[In Persian]
Schmitt, M. (2008) The Principle of Distinction and Weapon Systems on the Contemporary Battlefield, Connections Quarterly, 7(1), 46-56.
SharifiTarazkoohi, H, mehrani, F. (2012). An analytical examination of the conditions of the right of legitimate defense with an emphasis on the armed actions of the governments against the attacks of international terrorist groups, bi-quarterly journal of knowledge and legal research, 1(1), 1-46.[In Persian]
SharifiTarazkoohi, H, Zamani, S.Gh, Yaghoubi, M. (2023). Principles of International Humanitarian Law in the Face of New Military Weapons: Challenges and Solutions, Legal Research Journal, 22(54), 7-39.[In Persian]
Soleimani, R., Harati, M.J. (2015). Representation theory and Semantic Images of Iran & Islam in the discourse of U.S Media, Contemporary Political Essays, 6(4), 99-122.[In Persian]
The information base of the Office of Preservation and Publication of the Works of Ayatollah Ali
Vina, M. & Tobin, Y. (2024) Actions by the United Nations Undermine Israel’s Right to Self-Defense, JINSA(The Jewish Institute for National Security of America), Retrieved from:
https://jinsa.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Actions-by-the-United-Nations-Undermine-Israels-Right-to-Self-Defense-1-5-24-1.pdf
Wilde, R. (2023). Israel’s War in Gaza is Not a Valid Act of Self-defence in International Law, Retrieved from:
https://opiniojuris.org/2023/11/09/israels-war-in-gaza-is-not-a-valid-act-of-self-defence-in-international-law/

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics