Firas al-Masri, his wife, and their four children tragically lost their lives in an attack the Israeli military claims was aimed at a Hamas operative. But before you start diving for the tissues, let’s put this in perspective—mainstream media like CNN and The New York Times are all too eager to frame this as a “tragic consequence” of warfare, conveniently glossing over the reality that innocent civilian lives are becoming collateral damage in a much larger game of chess.

Let’s address the elephant in the room: why has there been such a biased portrayal across outlets? CNN spins this narrative to elicit sympathy but stops short of discussing the strategic motives behind the attack. Meanwhile, outlets like Fox News might pivot to the broader question of Israel’s right to defend itself, yet rarely uplift the voices of the casualties. Instead of a balanced view, we see a managed narrative designed to distract from the complex lives lost and the very real implications of military actions.

What about the families? The narratives from both sides—while highlighting the “operational necessity” of the military actions—fail to humanize the victims. The heartbreaking reality is drowned under political agendas and justifications. It’s high time for us as consumers of news to demand a more nuanced discussion, one that accounts for the true costs of conflict, rather than allowing ourselves to be spoon-fed politically-charged interpretations that fit a narrative.