It’s hard not to notice the striking contrast in coverage when it comes to news about Gaza, especially during a time when young Saba Rabah emerged as a beacon of resilience, ranking first in Palestine’s national high school exams amid Israel’s brutal onslaught. Corporate media like CNN and MSNBC? They focus on the despair, the conflict, and the geopolitical chess game rather than on the triumph of an individual who embodies hope and tenacity in dire circumstances. Why? Because struggles of the human spirit don’t fit their narrative of a relentless cycle of violence.

Meanwhile, Fox News loves to sensationalize this conflict, but let’s be real—they’re more preoccupied with drawing lines in the sand, often playing up tribalism instead of discussing the actual stories of those caught in the crossfire. Saba’s achievement is a testament that life goes on, even under oppressive conditions, but you won’t catch an anchor on any of these platforms stopping to highlight that. They’re too busy throwing around terms like “genocidal war” without acknowledging the individual stories—like Saba’s—that defy these narratives.

This isn’t just about numbers and casualty counts; it’s about recognizing the humanity that persists while the world watches in disbelief. We need to demand media that showcases resilience rather than just reports on despair. Otherwise, we risk painting narratives that fail to encompass the full scope of human experience—especially for the bright young minds like Saba, who rise above the smoke and mirrors.