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Wafa (Arabic: وفا, lit. 'trust', an acronym of Arabic: وكالة الأنباء الفلسطينية Wikalat al-Anba al-Filastiniya, lit. 'Palestinian News Agency'),[7] also referred to in English as the Palestine News Agency and the Palestinian News & Info Agency, is the official state-run news agency of the Palestinian National Authority (PNA).[8] Before the formation of the PNA in 1994, Wafa was the official news agency of the Palestine Liberation Organization.[9]

Key Information

Wafa, like the PNA's other media outlets, are considered to be aligned with Fatah.[10]

Wafa provides daily news from Palestinian territories, Israel and the Middle East, and is available in English, Arabic, French and Hebrew.[11][12]

History

[edit]

Early years (1972–1994)

[edit]

Following a decision at the Palestinian National Council's special session in Cairo in April 1972, the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization announced the establishment of Wafa as the official news agency of the Palestinians,[1] based in Beirut on June 5, 1972.[13] While initially Wafa focused on publishing "the official version of news about Palestinian affairs," especially military statements of its revolutionary leadership, Wafa's work gradually expanded. It began issuing felasteen el-thawra (meaning "Palestinian revolution"), a weekly magazine headed by Ahmed Abdel-Rahman.[1]

During PLO's presence in Lebanon, Wafa was frequently quoted by foreign correspondents and news agencies.[14] According to Kenneth R. Timmerman, writing for Commentary, Wafa was instrumental in shaping the Western narrative of the 1982 Lebanon War:[15]

The information supplied by WAFA on the number of victims and their category - civilian or military - provided the basis for the dispatches leaving West Beirut, in the absence of other sources. The "Lebanese police" so often quoted in this context had ceased to function in West Beirut early in the siege. With deadlines to meet and under the risk of falling bombs, most journalists were content with what they got. This, then, was one source of the wild exaggeration in the figures of civilian dead reported throughout the war and especially during the siege of Beirut. ... First there was the press pass issued by WAFA with the bearer's photograph, a duplicate of which remained in WAFA's offices. Without this pass, no journalist could hope to circulate in West Beirut; caught photographing, or taking notes, he would be immediately arrested if not shot on sight.

Following the PLO's ouster from Lebanon during the 1982 Lebanon War, Wafa resumed its activities in Cyprus and Tunis from November 1982.[16]

Under the PA (1994–2005)

[edit]

As a consequence of the Oslo Accords in 1994, the PLO's media institutions transferred to the aegis of the Palestinian Authority.[17] Wafa opened offices in Gaza City and Ramallah.[citation needed]

Under Mahmoud Abbas (2004–present)

[edit]

In April 2005, Mahmoud Abbas transferred the PNA's media assets, including Wafa, to the Palestinian Ministry of Information under Nabil Shaath. At the same time, he merged the General Information Commission into Wafa. Wafa was previously under the PA presidency and the PLO Executive Committee. Palestinian journalists had complained about the PNA's strict control over official media outlets, and the move was seen as an attempt to improve the official media's independence.[18]

Hamas won the 2006 Palestinian legislative election and to preempt Hamas from asserting control of the media assets, Abbas transferred them back to the presidential office.[12]

In September 2006, gunmen stormed Wafa's offices in Khan Younis and smashed equipment and beat up one reporter.[19]

In 2015, Abbas appointed Khoulud Asaf as the new head of WAFA, the first female head of the organization. The president of the PA appoints WAFA's head, and the organization is viewed an arm of the Palestinian government, rather than an independent agency that criticizes the Palestinian government.[6]

On December 10, 2018, Israeli soldiers raided Wafa's offices in Ramallah and fired tear gas into the building as part of a manhunt for gunmen involved in a December 9 attack that wounded seven Israeli civilians. The Palestinian Journalists' Union, the Palestinian Foreign Ministry, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, and the International Federation of Journalists condemned the Israeli action.[20][21][5][22]

In 2019, Wafa won the Federation of Arab News Agencies award for best report, a regional organization of national news agencies in the Arab World.[23]

Foreign language editions

[edit]

In October 2005, Wafa re-launched its French service. The French service had previously operated in Tunisia until 1994.[24]

In 2009, Wafa launched a Hebrew version of its website; the content of this service would also focus on Arab citizens of Israel.[25] It also started mailing a daily newsletter to Israeli members of the Knesset and Hebrew media outlets.[25] Wafa ceased its Hebrew service in 2016.[26]

In 2022, Wafa relaunched its Hebrew service in order to "convey the Palestinian point of view to Israeli society", according to Wafa's editor-in-chief.[26]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Wafa

View on Grokipedia
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WAFA (Arabic: وفا), News and Information Agency, is the official state-run of the Palestinian Authority, established in April 1972 by the to counter Israeli narratives and promote the Palestinian cause. Headquartered initially in , WAFA relocated to following the 1982 expulsion of PLO forces from and later moved to in 1994 upon the establishment of the Palestinian National Authority, under whose oversight it operates as a primary conduit for official Palestinian perspectives. It disseminates news in , English, French, and Hebrew, covering events in the Palestinian territories, , and the broader , often aligning closely with the political agenda of the ruling faction. While positioned as an independent journalistic entity, WAFA has faced criticism for functioning as a propaganda tool, including the dissemination of unverified claims, glorification of violence against Israelis, and efforts to shape narratives that incite unrest, as evidenced by patterns in its coverage preceding terror incidents. This role reflects its origins as the PLO's mouthpiece during the era of armed resistance, a characteristic that persists despite formal shifts in governance.

History

Founding and PLO Era (1972–1993)

The Palestinian News and Information Agency (WAFA) was established on June 5, 1972, by a decision of the Palestine Liberation Organization's (PLO) Executive Committee, pursuant to a resolution adopted by the Palestinian National Council during its extraordinary session in in April 1972. WAFA was founded in as an entity intended to operate independently while remaining structurally, politically, and administratively linked to the PLO, with a mandate to document events from the Palestinian viewpoint, counter Israeli narratives, and project an image supportive of Palestinian claims to self-determination and sovereignty. This creation aligned with the PLO's broader public relations strategy under Arafat's leadership, which included radio broadcasts, press releases, and publications to amplify the organization's message amid its shift toward international diplomacy and armed operations following the 1967 . Throughout the 1970s, WAFA functioned as the PLO's official news agency from , where the organization had relocated its headquarters after the events in displaced it in 1970–1971. It prioritized coverage of PLO initiatives, such as Arafat's 1974 speech to the —where he famously declared holding "a and a freedom fighter's gun"—and efforts to gain recognition from Arab states and non-aligned movements, often framing Palestinian actions as legitimate resistance against Israeli control of territories captured in 1967. As a conduit for PLO policy dissemination, WAFA exchanged information with international media and supported the group's of victimhood and national liberation, though its output consistently aligned with the PLO's objectives rather than providing detached reporting, reflecting its role as an organ of the organization rather than an impartial journalistic body. The 1982 Israeli invasion of Lebanon disrupted WAFA's operations, coinciding with the PLO's expulsion from after prolonged conflict that resulted in thousands of Palestinian and Lebanese casualties. Operations were temporarily halted before resuming from , the PLO's new base, where WAFA continued to coordinate news production and distribution through the . During this period, it covered the First Intifada's onset in 1987—initially grassroots protests in the and Gaza that evolved into widespread violence—and PLO diplomatic maneuvers, including the 1988 declaration of a Palestinian state in , while maintaining editorial fidelity to the PLO's rejectionist stance toward until the prelude to the process. By 1993, WAFA had solidified its position as the PLO's primary information apparatus, having expanded services in multiple languages to reach global audiences despite resource constraints in exile.

Transition to Palestinian Authority (1994–2000)

Following the signed on September 13, 1993, and the subsequent establishment of the Palestinian Authority (PA) on May 4, 1994, WAFA transitioned from being the official news agency of the (PLO) to operating under the aegis of the newly formed PA, with its media institutions effectively transferring administrative control. This shift aligned WAFA structurally with the PA's governance framework, maintaining its role as the primary conduit for official Palestinian narratives while adapting to territorial changes enabled by the accords, including limited self-rule in parts of the and . On July 20, 1994, coinciding with the PA's formal inception and Yasser Arafat's return to Gaza, WAFA relocated its headquarters from exile in to the , marking a physical and operational pivot toward on-the-ground reporting within Palestinian-administered areas. The agency subsequently opened additional offices in Gaza to facilitate expanded coverage of PA activities, such as administrative setups and interim , though its core mandate—to disseminate news reflecting Palestinian perspectives—remained unchanged, with no alterations to its legal, political, or structural status beyond integration into PA oversight. In 1996, WAFA's operations became subject to the PA's newly enacted Information Law, which formalized media regulations under the Ministry of Information established post-Oslo to oversee policy, licensing, and content alignment with governmental priorities. This period saw WAFA prioritize reporting on peace process developments, including the 1995 and PA elections on January 20, 1996, where Arafat secured 88.1% of the vote, while serving as the official voice that mirrored PA positions on negotiations and territorial claims. Despite these adaptations, WAFA retained its linkage to PLO executive structures, functioning as a state-aligned entity amid ongoing Israeli restrictions on media access and the absence of independent journalistic pluralism in PA-controlled outlets. By the late 1990s, leading into the Camp David Summit in July 2000, WAFA's role solidified as the PA's de facto information arm, producing daily bulletins in , English, and other languages to counter international narratives perceived as unfavorable, though critics noted its content often prioritized advocacy over neutral reporting. Funding transitioned to PA budgets supplemented by donor aid, enabling modest technological upgrades like early digital dissemination, but operational constraints persisted due to fragmented territorial control and security coordination with under Oslo frameworks.

Second Intifada and Political Shifts (2000–2005)

The , erupting on September 28, 2000, amid escalating tensions following Ariel Sharon's visit to the compound, saw WAFA intensify its role as the Palestinian Authority's primary conduit for narrating the conflict. Under Yasser Arafat's leadership, WAFA disseminated reports framing the uprising as a spontaneous popular resistance against Israeli occupation, emphasizing Palestinian casualties—such as the seven killed and over 300 injured in initial clashes—and portraying Israeli security forces as aggressors responsible for disproportionate violence. These dispatches aligned closely with PA strategy, which, according to internal testimonies later revealed, had pre-planned elements of the Intifada as a tool for unilateral concessions post-Camp David, including coordinated mobilization through media to sustain public fervor. WAFA's coverage during the period routinely highlighted "martyrdom operations" and protests while downplaying or contextualizing Palestinian attacks on Israeli civilians, which resulted in over 1,000 Israeli deaths, predominantly from suicide bombings orchestrated by groups like and aligned factions. Monitors of Arab media documented WAFA's contribution to , including publications that glorified armed struggle and accused of systematic atrocities, though isolated statements urged restraint, such as a 2001 call to limit actions to stone-throwing and avoid targeting civilians inside proper, reflecting tactical PA guidance amid international scrutiny. This output reinforced Arafat's dual-track approach—public endorsement of violence alongside diplomatic posturing—while PA-controlled outlets like WAFA served as vehicles for ideological mobilization, often prioritizing narrative control over balanced reporting, as critiqued by analysts noting in official Palestinian media. Arafat's death on November 11, 2004, from complications of a amid unsubstantiated allegations, precipitated a leadership transition that influenced WAFA's tone. Interim president maintained continuity in operations, but Mahmoud Abbas's election on January 9, 2005, with 62% of the vote, shifted PA policy toward de-escalation, culminating in the February 8, 2005, Sharm el-Sheikh Summit where Abbas committed to halting violence in exchange for Israeli withdrawal from Gaza settlements. WAFA adapted by amplifying Abbas's calls for "calming" (tahdiya) and reporting implementations, though it persisted in critiquing Israeli actions and commemorating sacrifices in ways that sustained anti-occupation rhetoric. This evolution mirrored Abbas's pragmatic pivot—distancing from Arafat's confrontational style without altering WAFA's core alignment as a state organ—yet retained patterns of selective casualty emphasis, as evidenced in retrospective coverage portraying the as a foundational resistance phase despite its tactical failures and over 3,000 Palestinian deaths.

Under Mahmoud Abbas Leadership (2005–present)

Following 's election as president of the Palestinian Authority on January 9, 2005, and his inauguration on January 15, WAFA retained its status as the PA's primary news dissemination arm, emphasizing official statements on governance, security coordination with , and diplomatic outreach amid stalled processes. The agency covered Abbas's early efforts to stabilize the PA after the Second Intifada, including the deployment of PA security forces in the under international oversight, while framing activity as the primary barrier to negotiations. WAFA's reporting during this period aligned closely with Fatah's agenda, highlighting Abbas's moderation compared to Hamas's rising influence, though it maintained narratives portraying Palestinian violence as defensive responses to occupation. The 2007 Hamas takeover of Gaza on June 14 marked a pivotal shift, positioning WAFA as the exclusive voice of the Ramallah-based PA under Abbas, excluding Hamas-led narratives and underscoring the legitimacy of Fatah-controlled institutions in the . In subsequent years, WAFA disseminated content supporting Abbas's unilateral statehood initiatives, such as the 2011 UN membership bid for as a non-member observer state, and reported on PA economic reforms funded by international donors. However, the agency faced operational challenges, including restricted access to Gaza, leading to reliance on secondary sources for coverage of events there, which critics argue contributed to unverified reporting. Under Abbas, WAFA has drawn sustained criticism for patterns of bias and incitement, with analyses showing near-uniform negative portrayal of —99.9% of 622 articles in July 2025 alone employed terms like "" and "martyrdom" without contextualizing Palestinian attacks or verifying casualty data from sources. For instance, on July 24, 2025, WAFA cited Gaza's death toll at 58,895 based on -provided figures, omitting reference to the , 2023, attacks that initiated the conflict. Such practices, attributed to PA leadership directives, aim to shape domestic and international opinion, fostering an environment that legitimizes according to reports from monitoring organizations.

Organizational Structure and Operations

Governance and Funding Sources

WAFA operates under the oversight of the Palestinian Authority (PA) as its official news agency, having been established on June 5, 1972, through a decision by the Executive Committee, pursuant to a resolution from April 1972. It is structured as an independent entity that remains politically, administratively, and structurally linked to the Executive Committee, free from external trusteeship or subordination. After the PA's formation, WAFA's operations aligned with the PA's Information Law enacted in 1996, which governs media entities without altering its core ties to the framework. Leadership roles at WAFA, including the director-general and editorial heads, are appointed directly by the PA president via , ensuring alignment with executive priorities; a 2011 decree formalized this appointment process to centralize control. This structure positions WAFA as an extension of PA governance, with content and operations reflecting official policy directives from . WAFA's funding lacks publicly disclosed detailed breakdowns, with no official financial reports available as of June 2025, reflecting limited transparency in PA-affiliated media operations. As a state-run agency, it relies primarily on allocations from the PA's general , which totals around $6 billion annually and is financed through Israeli-transferred clearance revenues ( and es on imports), domestic collections, and international donor grants that have declined to approximately 1% of the in recent years amid fiscal strains. Supplementary income is generated internally by marketing and selling news content, video footage, technical services, training programs, subscriptions, and fees. Donor pledges, such as those from ($60 million in 2015) and ($50 million grants), bolster the broader PA supporting entities like WAFA, though specific earmarks for the agency remain unspecified.

Staff, Headquarters, and Daily Functions

WAFA maintains its headquarters in , , specifically on Almokatt'a Street. This location serves as the central hub for administrative and editorial activities following the agency's relocation to Palestinian territories after the establishment of the Palestinian Authority. The agency's staff consists of journalists, editors, photographers, and administrative personnel operating as an independent body affiliated with the Palestinian presidency and governed by structures outlined in Presidential Decree No. 6 of 2011. These employees, drawn from Palestinian media professionals, focus on vocational training and field reporting, with correspondents deployed across the , , and occasionally monitoring regional events. While exact staffing figures are not publicly detailed, operations rely on a core team supplemented by stringers for on-the-ground coverage. Daily functions center on news gathering from local sources and international wires, followed by editing, verification within the agency's framework, and production of text articles, photographs, and multimedia content. Content is disseminated via the WAFA website, social media channels, and subscriptions in Arabic, English, French, and Hebrew, emphasizing real-time reporting on Palestinian affairs, political developments, and regional conflicts from an official perspective. Investigative reports and analytical studies are also produced periodically to support broader information objectives, with output coordinated from Ramallah to ensure alignment with mandated priorities.

Mandate and Content Focus

Official Objectives and Coverage Priorities

WAFA, the Palestinian News and Information Agency, was established on June 5, 1972, by the (PLO) Executive Committee following a decision by the Palestinian National Council in April 1972, with the explicit purpose of countering Israeli propaganda and offering an independent platform to convey the perspective. Its foundational role under the PLO emphasized creating a national media outlet to document and disseminate information aligned with Palestinian national aspirations for freedom, independence, and sovereignty. The agency's stated mission centers on projecting "the proper image of Palestine" to global audiences, thereby affirming the Palestinian people's inalienable rights, while simultaneously supplying Palestinians with coverage of international news to foster an informed domestic environment. This dual focus aims to harness WAFA's resources in creativity and expertise to build a robust national , including news gathering, staff training, and collaboration with local, Arab, and international agencies for . In terms of coverage priorities, WAFA emphasizes documenting domestic events within Palestinian territories, enhancing media attention to Palestinian political and national issues, and contributing to formulation through informed reporting for decision-makers. Operational under the Palestinian Authority's 1996 Information Law since its relocation to the territories, the agency prioritizes political narratives over social or cultural topics, as evidenced by its consistent emphasis on events related to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, PA , and international affecting . This approach supports the PA's broader agenda by maintaining a focus on sovereignty claims, resistance to occupation, and global advocacy for Palestinian statehood, while providing multilingual outputs in , English, French, and Hebrew to reach wider audiences.

News Production and Dissemination Methods

WAFA produces news primarily through a network of correspondents and journalists stationed in Palestinian territories, , and regional bureaus, who conduct on-the-ground reporting, interviews, and press investigations. Content gathering also incorporates feeds from local, Arab, and international agencies, with a heavy emphasis on official Palestinian Authority (PA) sources for verification—studies of its coverage, such as on crime events, show 100% reliance on governmental statements and . This process occurs under direct political oversight, as WAFA functions as the PA's official mouthpiece, subjecting material to alignment with governmental narratives before editing and publication. Output formats include text articles, photographs, videos, analytical studies, and multimedia packages, often emphasizing events in , the , and related global developments from a Palestinian viewpoint. Dissemination relies on digital platforms as primary channels, with WAFA operating multilingual websites in , English, French, and Hebrew that publish wire-style updates in real-time. Social media accounts, including (@WAFANewsEnglish), , and , amplify reach by sharing articles, videos, and live feeds to audiences worldwide. As a state , it supplies content via subscriptions and feeds to Palestinian media outlets, international wire services, and partners through information exchanges, while maintaining a National Information Center for archiving and selective distribution. In 2011, WAFA expanded services to include alerts and enhanced broadcasting to improve accessibility and speed of delivery. Traditional persists but has declined in favor of online methods, reflecting broader shifts in Palestinian media consumption toward digital sources.

Editorial Stance and Bias

Alignment with Palestinian Authority Agenda

WAFA operates as the official of the Palestinian Authority (PA), established in 1972 by the and centralized under direct PA control in 2008 through a presidential decree issued by , ensuring its role as a primary vehicle for disseminating the PA's official positions and viewpoints. Its leadership, including the chairman and , has been appointed by the PA since 2011, with no independent oversight or mechanisms for editorial autonomy, resulting in content that systematically echoes PA messaging on political, diplomatic, and conflict-related issues. This alignment manifests in WAFA's prioritization of PA leadership statements, such as those from Abbas or the cabinet, presented without critical or counterperspectives; for instance, reports on PA commitments to governance in Gaza or international are framed affirmatively to reinforce official narratives of legitimacy and unity. In conflict coverage, WAFA adopts lexicon aligned with PA policy, labeling Palestinian violent actions as "resistance" while portraying Israeli military operations with terms like "" or "," as documented in an of 622 English-language articles from July 2025, where 99.9% depicted negatively using unverified data from sources like Hamas-run health ministries. WAFA's reporting omits internal PA critiques, such as corruption allegations or factional divisions, while excluding context unfavorable to PA positions, like the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks or Palestinian incitement; specific examples include July 9, 2025, coverage of a "Palestinian girl martyred by Israeli army gunfire" without operational details, and July 24, 2025, claims of a Gaza death toll of 58,895 amid "ongoing Israeli genocide," relying solely on PA-endorsed figures. This selective framing supports PA efforts to cultivate a narrative of unified victimhood and external aggression, limiting space for dissenting Palestinian voices or balanced analysis as reported by local journalists.

Patterns of Anti-Israel Rhetoric and Incitement

Analyses of WAFA's English-language output have identified a consistent pattern of overwhelmingly negative framing of , with 99.9% of 622 articles published in July 2025 portraying in explicitly hostile terms, such as accusations of systematic atrocities without contextual balance. Only 12 articles during this period were neutral, primarily on non-political topics like , while coverage omitted Palestinian achievements, internal issues, or initiatives for coexistence. This uniformity extends to the routine application of inflammatory descriptors, including labeling Israeli military operations as "" and Palestinian combatants or civilians killed in confrontations as "martyrs," which critics argue dehumanizes and normalizes violence against them. Specific examples illustrate this rhetoric's intensity. On July 9, 2025, WAFA reported the death of a Palestinian girl in Gaza as her being "martyred by Israeli army gunfire," emphasizing victimhood without reference to surrounding hostilities or activities in the area. Similarly, a July 10 article claimed " continues , forcibly displaces Gazans," framing displacement as deliberate extermination rather than responses to rocket fire or tunnels. By July 24, WAFA cited a Gaza death toll of 58,895 "amid ongoing Israeli ," relying uncritically on figures from the -controlled health ministry without independent verification or mention of combatant or the , 2023, attacks that initiated the escalation. Such reporting systematically excludes Israeli , security rationales, or 's role in initiating violence, fostering a of unprovoked Israeli . This pattern contributes to by cultivating pervasive anti-Israel animus, as documented in reviews linking PA media demonization to subsequent terror waves; for instance, WAFA's amplification of "martyr" glorification echoes broader PA practices of honoring attackers, which UN Watch reports include WAFA tributes to individuals involved in violence against Israelis. The absence of counter-narratives—such as Israeli , warnings prior to operations, or Palestinian rejectionism—reinforces a causal chain where distorted portrayals justify retaliation, aligning with empirical observations that spikes in such rhetoric precede lone-wolf attacks or uprisings. Independent monitors, including the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs, argue this output functions less as journalism and more as engineered to sustain conflict by eroding any basis for empathy or negotiation.

Controversies and Criticisms

Accusations of Systematic Propaganda

Critics, including media watchdogs and think tanks, have accused the Palestinian News Agency (WAFA), as the official mouthpiece of the Palestinian Authority (PA), of functioning as a systematic apparatus rather than an independent journalistic entity. According to a analysis by the , WAFA produces "pure naked " through dozens of daily articles that routinely employ loaded terminology such as "the occupation," "Jewish extremists," and "Jewish fanatics" to frame negatively, while lavishing uncritical praise on PA President . These articles lack bylines, corrections, or rebuttals, indicating a controlled disseminated verbatim by Palestinian media outlets, with writers presumed to be PA employees funded in part by international donors including U.S. taxpayers. A July 2025 study by the Center for Public Affairs (JCPA) examined 622 WAFA articles and found 99.9% portrayed in explicitly negative terms, with only 12 neutral pieces focused on non-political topics like , omitting any positive coverage of Palestinian achievements or initiatives. The highlighted systematic use of inflammatory , such as labeling Israeli actions as "," "," or "war crimes," often without evidentiary support or contextual reference to events like the October 7, 2023, attacks or ongoing Palestinian . For instance, a July 24, 2025, article cited an unverified Gaza death toll of 58,895 sourced from authorities, while a July 10 piece accused of "continuing " and forced displacement absent balancing facts. This pattern, the JCPA argued, dehumanizes , delegitimizes the , and normalizes violence by cultivating an environment of unrelenting hostility targeted at Western audiences via WAFA's English and French editions. Such practices, echoed in a contemporaneous JNS.org report drawing on the same JCPA data, are said to "set the stage for terror" by fostering through omission and , where PA leverages WAFA to propagate a that justifies aggression while suppressing dissenting via . Palestinian Media Watch (PMW), a monitoring organization, has similarly documented WAFA's role in amplifying PA-aligned messaging that glorifies "martyrs" and incites against , reinforcing claims of institutional inherent to its status as a state-funded entity. These accusations portray WAFA's output as engineered to shape perceptions, influence global opinion, and sustain conflict rather than inform objectively.

Documented Cases of Misinformation and Fabrications

One prominent case involved the explosion at in on October 17, 2023. WAFA reported that an Israeli airstrike had struck the hospital, killing hundreds of civilians in what it described as a "brutal massacre." Subsequent investigations by U.S., French, and Canadian intelligence agencies, along with forensic analyses by outlets including and , determined the blast resulted from a misfired rocket launched by from Gaza, with the death toll estimated at 50 to 100, primarily from shrapnel and the ensuing chaos rather than an airstrike. WAFA did not issue a correction, despite the evidence contradicting its initial attribution to . In January 2022, WAFA claimed that 80-year-old Palestinian-American Omar Abdalmajeed As'ad had died following detention by Israeli forces near , implying custody-related harm. The Israel Defense Forces stated they had briefly detained and then released As'ad alive on January 12, with his death occurring later from a heart attack, as confirmed by reporting and subsequent UPI correction prompted by scrutiny. No evidence linked the detention to his death, highlighting WAFA's reliance on unverified Palestinian sources without independent verification. During the 2002 Battle of , WAFA asserted on April 10 that Israeli forces used bulldozers to bury Palestinian "martyrs" in mass graves to conceal a . A United Nations investigation, completed in August 2002, found only 52 Palestinian deaths—most combatants—with no substantiation for mass graves, hidden bodies, or systematic civilian ; the camp sustained limited damage, not wholesale destruction as claimed by WAFA and other PA outlets. These reports echoed inflated PA figures of 500 or more deaths, later debunked by forensic and eyewitness accounts showing combat-related casualties in a dense urban terrorist stronghold.

Responses to International Scrutiny

WAFA and the Palestinian Authority have typically responded to international accusations of bias, propaganda, and misinformation by framing such criticisms as components of Israeli-led disinformation efforts designed to undermine Palestinian institutions and narratives. In a 2014 WAFA dispatch, the agency described Israeli government actions against the Palestinian leadership as a "misinformation campaign" that underscored Israel's unwillingness to pursue peace, thereby deflecting scrutiny onto the accuser's motives rather than engaging with specific evidentiary claims. Similarly, in April 2025, WAFA reported that Israeli authorities were perpetuating a "disinformation campaign" against UNRWA while restricting media access to Gaza, positioning Palestinian reporting as a counter to alleged Israeli propaganda. In instances involving Palestinian entities, responses relayed through WAFA often involve outright denials and reciprocal labeling of opposing reports as fabrications. For example, in May 2021, the Palestinian Ministry of Health, via WAFA, denounced an Israeli COGAT (Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories) assessment of a Gaza rocket striking a hospital as "," without providing independent verification or addressing underlying ballistic evidence. Palestinian officials have likewise dismissed Israeli allegations of PA military procurements as "media fabrication" politically timed for leverage, as stated by a PA security coordinator in 2020 through WAFA. WAFA has also highlighted perceived biases in international and regional media to contextualize criticisms against itself. The agency has monitored and publicized instances of alleged incitement in Israeli outlets, such as a 2019 report on an Israeli activist's call for revenge against Palestinians in Haaretz, as part of a broader narrative of reciprocal media flaws. In October 2025, WAFA covered a position paper by the Arab digital rights group 7amleh, which portrayed disinformation against Palestinians as a "deliberate strategy" rather than mere bias, aligning with WAFA's portrayal of scrutiny as systematic narrative control by adversaries. These responses emphasize external culpability over internal reform, with no documented instances of WAFA issuing retractions or editorial audits in response to verified fabrications identified by independent monitors.

International Presence and Impact

Multilingual Editions and Global Outreach

WAFA operates multilingual websites and services primarily in , English, French, and Hebrew to disseminate Palestinian Authority perspectives on regional events. The English edition, accessible at english.wafa.ps, provides translated news articles, press releases, and updates aimed at international audiences, with content mirroring the Arabic original but adapted for global readability. Similarly, the French service supports outreach to Francophone regions, while the Hebrew edition, relaunched on January 7, 2022, after a suspension since 2016, seeks to bypass Israeli media filters and directly engage Israeli readers with unfiltered PA narratives. Global outreach extends through social media platforms, where WAFA maintains official English-language accounts on X (formerly Twitter) with over 18,000 followers as of recent data, , and , facilitating rapid content distribution to communities and foreign policymakers. These channels amplify stories of alleged Israeli actions in Palestinian territories, often prioritizing emotive language to shape international opinion, as evidenced by analyses showing near-total negative framing of in English outputs during specific periods like July 2025. The agency's digital presence has grown to target global solidarity movements, with serving as a key tool for reaching diverse audiences beyond the . This multilingual strategy aligns with WAFA's role as the PA's official mouthpiece, enabling it to counterbalance mainstream coverage, which the agency portrays as biased toward , though independent reviews highlight WAFA's own selective reporting that omits context on Palestinian or governance failures. Efforts include partnerships with international outlets for syndication, though verifiable data on subscription volumes or impact metrics remains limited, with outreach effectiveness gauged more by engagement than formal diplomatic influence.

Influence on Diaspora and Foreign Perceptions

WAFA's multilingual platforms, including English, French, Arabic, and Hebrew editions, extend its reach to communities across , the , and beyond, serving as a primary conduit for official narratives from the Palestinian Authority on homeland events. By prioritizing coverage of alleged Israeli aggressions, settlement expansions, and restrictions on Palestinian movement—such as reporting over 1,000 settler attacks in the in 2023—the agency reinforces a victimhood framework that sustains diaspora attachment to the conflict and discourages assimilation into host societies. This content, disseminated via WAFA's and syndication, shapes perceptions by framing resistance as legitimate while rarely acknowledging internal Palestinian divisions or failed , as evidenced by its alignment with PA directives that omit critiques of groups like . Diaspora reliance on such sources, particularly in communities numbering over 6 million globally, perpetuates intergenerational transmission of grievances, influencing and remittances tied to national causes rather than local integration. In foreign perceptions, WAFA's targeted English and French outputs—aimed at Western journalists, lawmakers, and human-rights groups—employ unverified statistics and terms like "apartheid" or "settler-colonialism" to portray as the primary aggressor, with a July 2025 analysis revealing 622 articles where 99.9% cast negatively, often without contextualizing Palestinian incitement or rocket fire. This strategy floods international media ecosystems, amplifying calls for boycotts and sanctions while marginalizing Israeli security concerns, thereby contributing to skewed global sympathy that overlooks PA corruption or terror financing. Critiques from media watchdogs highlight how WAFA's state-controlled editorial line, lacking independence under PA-appointed leadership, distorts foreign discourse by legitimizing violence through repetitive of , potentially eroding support for peace processes in policy circles. For instance, its coverage routinely ignores PA payments to families of attackers—totaling millions annually—focusing instead on Israeli responses, which influences NGO reports and UN resolutions favoring Palestinian claims.

References

  1. https://una-oic.org/en/news_agencies/palestinian-news-and-information-agency-wafa/
  2. https://statemediamonitor.com/2025/07/palestinian-news-and-info-agency-wafa/
  3. https://www.encyclopedia.com/politics/dictionaries-thesauruses-pictures-and-press-releases/wafa
  4. https://english.wafa.ps/Home/AboutUs
  5. https://english.wafa.ps/
  6. https://jcpa.org/the-use-of-wafa-by-the-palestinian-leadership-to-set-the-stage-for-terror/
  7. https://www.jns.org/the-pas-wafa-news-agency-sets-the-stage-for-terror/
  8. https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/114933
  9. https://www.american.edu/soc/faculty/upload/palestinian-public-relations.pdf
  10. https://books.openbookpublishers.com/10.11647/obp.0238/ch3.xhtml
  11. https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/149703
  12. https://jcpa.org/article/the-palestinian-authoritys-responsibility-for-the-outbreak-of-the-second-intifada-its-own-damning-testimony/
  13. https://www.palquest.org/en/highlight/33567/second-intifada-2000-2005
  14. https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-829462
  15. https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1057/9781137467034_11
  16. https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/131792
  17. https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/161781
  18. https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/sites/default/files/pdf/PolicyNote78-Omari-Yaari.pdf
  19. https://www.crisisgroup.org/middle-east-north-africa/east-mediterranean-mena/israelpalestine/238-managing-palestines-looming-leadership-transition
  20. https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/palestinian-authority-pay-reduced-salaries-israel-blocks-funds-2024-02-06/
  21. https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/85983
  22. https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/96339
  23. https://english.wafa.ps/Home/ContactUs
  24. https://i-rep.emu.edu.tr/xmlui/bitstream/handle/11129/5611/salehahmad.pdf?sequence=1
  25. https://www.scirp.org/journal/paperinformation?paperid=92203
  26. https://rsf.org/en/country/palestine
  27. https://twitter.com/WAFANewsEnglish
  28. https://www.facebook.com/WAFANewsEnglish/
  29. https://www.youtube.com/c/WafaAgency
  30. https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/109834
  31. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-14631745
  32. https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/161624
  33. https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/163420
  34. https://journals.library.mun.ca/index.php/JU/article/download/2911/2356/10470
  35. https://unwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/United-Nations-Watch-Shadow-Report-to-CRC-on-State-of-Palestine.pdf
  36. https://www.algemeiner.com/2018/10/26/the-wafa-news-agency-the-palestinian-propaganda-factory/
  37. https://palwatch.org/all/1596
  38. https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/138375
  39. https://www.cnn.com/2023/10/21/middleeast/cnn-investigates-forensic-analysis-gaza-hospital-blast
  40. http://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/127622
  41. https://www.camera.org/article/upi-improv-unsubstantiated-report-claims-elderly-palestinian-man-dies-in-israeli-military-custody/
  42. https://www.camera.org/article/palestinian-spokesmen-jenin-lies-and-media-indifference/
  43. https://www.gov.il/en/pages/lies-and-disinformation-as-a-palestinian-weapon-10-apr-2002
  44. https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/80269
  45. https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/156542
  46. https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/124566
  47. https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/112289
  48. https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/110580
  49. https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/163403
  50. https://www.timesofisrael.com/palestinian-authoritys-wafa-news-agency-relaunches-hebrew-service/
  51. https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/107679
  52. https://familiamigo.com/blog/wafa-news-agency-on-facebook
  53. https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/136707
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