The conflict between Palestine and Israel has deep historical roots, with disputes over territory and religion spanning more than a century. On October 7, 2023, a tragic attack by Hamas resulted in the deaths of over a thousand people, an event that has left a lasting impact. However, Hamas is not all Palestine is, and since then, a blind eye has been turned on the Palestinian people by the media. An especially bad case of poor coverage is none other than Las Vegas’s biggest newspaper, the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
How the Las Vegas Review-Journal is Covering the Palestinian Genocide
The Las Vegas Review-Journal has continuously published articles labeling the genocide as a “War with Hamas.” Overall, their surplus of coverage of Israel’s attacks has largely blamed Hamas, with articles such as “EDITORIAL: Blame Hamas leadership for suffering in Gaza,” comparing Israel’s actions to “password-protecting your Wi-Fi” after a “neighbor” “kills your dog and takes your children as hostages.” Coverage of the genocide is highly skewed, with sugarcoated language disguising atrocities. When the Palestinian perspective is given, it’s nearly always followed by a statement from Israel’s government. Why is Israel not given the same treatment?
In the opinion piece “SAUNDERS: Memo to all demanding Palestinian statehood: Hamas still has hostages” in the Las Vegas Review-Journal, a 2-state solution is called “Bogus,” and it’s written that “Hamas is to blame” for the entire conflict. This is simply untrue, as the conflict between Palestine and Israel has existed for over a century. (It’s also important to note the conflict between the two states does not in any way reflect the people of either Israel or Palestine (as seen by many recent Israeli protests), and it’s important to note that anti-Netanyahu and anti-IDF viewpoints do not equal a pro-Hamas view, and pro-Palestinian viewpoints do not equate to an anti-Israel view, either. You can be anti-Hamas and anti-IDF, just as you can support Palestine without being anti-semitic.)
So, what is the truth behind the ongoing situation in Palestine?
It’s not pretty.
An Ongoing Genocide
According to The Gaza Health Ministry and the Associated Press, over 60,000 Palestinians have been slaughtered as of July 2025. Israeli bombing, as well as Israel’s blockade of aid, have created increasingly worse conditions for innocent Palestinians. According to a report by the IPC, “The worst-case scenario of Famine is currently playing out in the Gaza Strip,” due to the blocking of humanitarian aid, especially food. This includes baby formula and medical aid. In addition, those waiting for food at sites operated by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, including children, have reportedly been killed by the Israeli military, according to a media statement by the United Nations.
The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum defines genocide as “acts committed with the intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial, or religious group.” Included in the list of acts is killing members of the group and inflicting conditions on the group to kill. The UN’s decision that Israel’s occupation of Palestine is consistent with genocide is justified by the intentional starvation caused by Israel’s blockade of humanitarian aid, the killing of innocent Palestinians, and Israeli government statements like National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir’s “My right, the right of my wife and my children to move around Judea and Samaria [both part of Palestine] is more important than freedom of movement for the Arabs,” and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich’s “Not even a grain of wheat will enter Gaza,” as just a few examples of the Israeli government’s goal to slaughter the Palestinian people.
What motive does the Las Vegas Review-Journal have for blatantly ignoring the genocide? Look no further than the owners of the paper- the Adelsons.
Why the Las Vegas Review-Journal Ignores the Palestinian Genocide
When the Las Vegas Review-Journal was acquired in 2015, it wasn’t clear who had bought it. According to the Review Journal itself, writers were told the new owners “want you to focus on your jobs…and don’t worry about who they are.” However, it would soon come to light who their owners were: The Adelsons.
While the Las Vegas Review-Journal already has a reputation for being right-wing in its coverage, its owners, the late Sheldon Adelson’s family, have a history of donating to right-wing politicians, according to The New Yorker. While this doesn’t necessarily correlate to pro-Israel messaging, the Adelson family also owns a widespread free Israeli newspaper, Israel Hayom. Israel Hayom is known for being pro-Benjamin Netanyahu (Israel’s current prime minister), and has not only been found to lean to the right, but also influence elections, according to a study from 2020. There is a significant bias present for Israel in the Las Vegas Review-Journal, and the fact that they are owned by the owners of Israel Hayom presents an explanation for the lack of reporting on the Palestinian perspective.
The nail in the coffin of bias is the personal relationship between the late Sheldon Adelson and the Israeli government itself. In an article by the Associated Press, it is reported that Netanyahu said Sheldon Adelson was “a wonderful friend to us personally.” It is no surprise that the Las Vegas Review-Journal has a bias towards Israel when its owners since 2015 have a relationship with the Israeli state.
Many national news outlets over the past few years have been called into question for their owners’ agendas. For example, the Washington Post, being owned by Jeff Bezos, has been subject to widespread criticism and scrutiny of its articles on US policy due to Bezos’ political leanings. However, it’s just as important to look at the local level for bias. Next time you see an article about the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine, it’s important to take a step back and consider who may be funding it, publicly and privately.
