972 Magazine

+972 Magazine is an independent, non-profit publication run by a group of Palestinian and Israeli journalists. Founded in 2010, the digital magazine provides in-depth reporting, analysis, and commentary on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, offering perspectives often missing from English-language media. Named after the shared telephone country code of Israel and Palestine, +972 Magazine advocates for a political solution to the conflict. It represents no external organization, political party, or agenda, publishing a wide range of viewpoints that do not necessarily reflect the editorial stance. Despite facing numerous threats due to its opposition to the occupation and commitment to peace, +972 Magazine remains steadfast in its mission. Dozens of journalists have tragically lost their lives covering the conflict, which escalated after the Hamas attacks and abductions in Israel on 7 October 2023 and the subsequent Israeli bombings of Gaza.

In the Palestinian territories, countless journalists are silenced, intimidated, or killed. By May 2024, 143 Palestinian journalists and media workers had been killed by the Israeli army in Gaza, making it the deadliest conflict for journalists of this century. During her acceptance speech, Editor-in-Chief Ghousoon Bisharat also commemorated the four Israeli journalists killed by Hamas on 7 October. She dedicated the Honorary Title to all Palestinian journalists reporting under life-threatening conditions on the actions of the Israeli military. It is this dedication that lies at the heart of +972 Magazine.

+972’s journalistic model and vision are unique. The magazine illuminates the complexity of life in Palestine and Israel through honest, reliable reporting that respects all peoples in the region. Its investigative work has been picked up by major international networks, providing them with credible sources for dialogue. “Unfortunately, most major Israeli news agencies refuse to tell the population what is really happening in Gaza and other occupied territories. But there are smaller outlets in Israel willing to share the story,” Bisharat noted, hoping more will follow both within Israel and globally.

As Israel demonstrates that apartheid and occupation are fundamental pillars of its regime, +972 Magazine seeks a renewed approach to journalism in Israel and Palestine. “Decades of colonial expansion have effectively erased the Green Line (the 1949 border between Israeli and Palestinian territories), consolidating a single regime between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean. Successive Israeli governments have pursued permanent dominance over Palestinians—whether through military rule in Hebron, unequal citizenship in Jaffa, the siege of Gaza, or forced exile in Ein al-Hilweh.” To reflect this reality, +972 has updated the language it uses to describe the regime. “When +972 was founded, the word ‘occupation’ sufficed for many. Today, due to on-the-ground developments and the tireless activism of Palestinians and allies, the term ‘apartheid’ more accurately describes the system of segregation and supremacy, helping readers, journalists, and observers better understand the current reality.”

+972 has always strived to produce professional, fact-based reporting and analysis on Israel-Palestine. It also recognizes that context and framing are crucial, especially in a situation consistently misrepresented in the media. The magazine amplifies voices long excluded from public debate—particularly Palestinian voices—to help redress the imbalance in who is allowed to speak and report on the region. This includes marginalized communities such as Mizrahim, African asylum seekers, LGBTQ+ activists, and working-class families.

+972 provides a platform for a broad range of stories and perspectives often ignored or overlooked by other media. It addresses the complexities of the Israel-Palestine issue, framing Zionism as a colonial project rather than a national movement, while recognizing the right of Palestinian refugees to return to their homeland. +972 believes fostering discussion offers a fuller understanding of life in the region and enriches the pursuit of equality, justice, and freedom of information for all.

Sources: Acceptance speech by Ghousoon Bisharat, www.972mag.com