GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — On July 25, Ibrahim al-Madhoun, a political analyst and director of the Youth Media Center, Hamas’ media wing, appeared on Israeli i24 News in a Skype interview for the 6 o’clock news. His appearance elicited a wave of negative reactions among activists on social media who saw it as media normalization, that is, establishing a dialogue between Palestinians and Israelis through the media. Prevailing opinion in Palestinian society rejects such a relationship.

Madhoun spoke about the negative repercussions on Palestinian refugees of the escalating financial crisis of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency following the Jan. 5 US decision to freeze $125 million in annual aid to the organization. The actual content of the discussion was not enough to shield Madhoun from criticism.

i24News, which began operating in 2013, broadcasts in Arabic, English and French. Arab48, a website focusing on Israeli media, published an article in July 2014 claiming that i24News goal is to improve Israel's image, especially among Arabs.

On July 26, Hadi al-Ijla, a Palestinian political researcher at the Institute for Middle East Studies in Canada, used Facebook to criticize Madhoun’s appearance, stressing that refusing to engage with Israeli media is part of Palestinian resistance against the occupation. The next day, Mohammed Jaser, an independent journalist, wrote on Facebook, “Your appearance on an Israeli channel will not change the conviction of the Israeli settlers. You are just a terrorist to them even if you are peaceful!”