CNN: Executive Director Ahmed Rehab on CNN Discussing Its Coverage on Gaza

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In this insightful CNN discussion, Executive Ahmed Rehab delves into the intricate dynamics of media coverage regarding the Gaza conflict. Gain valuable perspectives and deep analysis on this critical issue.

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>> Tonight, a grieving Palestinian American mothers recovering in a hospital outside Chicago. Her six-year-old son has been laid to rest. Both were attacked in a brutal stabbing at their home. Allegedly targeted for being Muslim. Authorities have arrested their 71 year old landlord. You see him on the screen. The doj has opened a federal hate crimes investigation.

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Great uncle joins me. Well the executive director of Chicago chapter of a council on American islamic relations. Thank you so much for joining us. Both of you today. Mahmoud. I would like to begin with you and I honestly can't express how sorry I am to be meeting you this way. I would like to begin by asking you about what he. Tell me about this horrible. Just six years old, a

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kindergartner. . Yes, he's a kindergarten. Six years old. Like any other six-year-old. He was a lot of fun, exciting. It likes to laugh. He had a lot of friends. Yesterday we were talking about the family. And they miss him. He had a future. And unfortunately it was taken

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early. >> How is your family cope, his mother in particular. Any ideas of how she is doing right now? >> Until now, we had no idea how she is. Right now they are not letting us talk to her or see her or visit her. Up until this point. We are trying. It will as we have to wait. I'm here today, his father

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until now is still in disbelief of what has just happened. So it is not easy. It's not easy, on, might I would be they could not speak to his mother, you have any idea? >> While she was stabbed 12 times. This was a brutal and heinous attack. Down to 12 times. Little boy was stabbed 26 times. A 12 inch knife was still in his abdomen when he was taken for an autopsy. Stabbed in the face, the cheek,

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can't talk. She is in severe distress emotionally of course with the trauma she experienced. And so it is perhaps the hospital wanting her to be protected from the interests of the public. We are still trying to get into contact. What you described is truly heinous and unbelievable to think that that has happened to anyone, let alone a child or his mother. Let me ask you. The war is now in the middle East, and yet there is a victim

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at least two, this little boy, his mother. You're in America. We are seeing repercussions here. What does that feel like? >> It feels frustrating and painful. This is a conversation we are just going to have to have. It is a cognitive dissonance we are experiencing here. Ironically just before this segment, discussing the brutalizing of this family. There was a segment discussing potential imminent threats from the Muslim community.

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And it is reports like this that evil man was watching he got radicalized by the coverage of the media. That is being consistently lopsided and one-sided. Not like what I am seeing on CNN. Statements from politicians. Causing this man who had other why's been normal. Had bought a tree house for the boy, by. Employees become monster. St sff that many times because he thought that they were a threat. So I think we needed to not this societally talk of the

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issues. How we dehumanize Palestinians. How we erase their suffering from how certain people flipping radicalized and commit these crimes. >> I think your point is certainly not lost on me. And particularly the way that we speak about and it detached away it might appear. I assure you that is not how I view it. I wonder Mahmoud, for you in particular as well hearing about this as it is described.

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Thinking about how people are becoming responsive to and reactive to things they might be hearing in different outlets. What is the way to stop it. What is the way to see things done because this should not have happened this little boy. >> We were talking about this issue and a lot unfortunately a

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lot of people have a phobia or against muslims. I take this monster. Described as animals. I think that it starts with leaders of our country. When they hear something like some type of news. This type of information is

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real to somebody. Like this gentlemen. Like you said he was a normal person. There is not a problem with them. Suddenly he just switched because of what he hears from the news. Most of the things he hears unfortunately is not even true. That's where we have to start. We have to start with the community. You community unfortunately are judgmental. Why didn't you just ask if you fear something. Why don't you ask. I know a lot of people out

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there. They are muslims and they're very good friends. I have a lot of neighbors. We are on perfect terms. The reason is we communicate. >> You know we have not had as many cases we are having now. As we had since time 11. He's in the most number of cases we've had in terms of hate incidents, women being attacked burger, canes McDonald's, groceries shops. Gas stations.

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This incident was obviously unique and how brutal it was. But there are many incidents that we are not talking about happening as a result of the atmosphere we are and. I think we can all agree that we stand against atrocious acts against's citizens, I think that something we can all agree on. But as much as we can collectively to condemn terrorism. We must conduct actively condemn war crimes, shutting off of food, hospitals. I know there is the back and forth of who did it. But we've seen many hospitals

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bombed in gaza and other places. We need to be brave enough and courageous enough to have conversations and humanize both sides. Do not demonize one side or another. Humans are humans. I have good, bad and shortcomings. We need to have an adult conversation. Even atmosphere in which we demonized entire population. And make them ripe for the killings. >> A lot of families -- >> Go ahead. Your point is taking, I just wanted to reiterate that I do hear you. And I think that tonight is an

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opportunity for us to expand beyond the conversations we've been having. We are going to have that conversation tonight. >> And you are. You've given us a platform to be able to share our feelings. We appreciate you. I'm glad that you came. Your insights and the story is important. I'm glad you told us about. Sadly the other incidents that have been going on. Thank you to you both and I'm looking forward to hearing about the recovery of this young woman who has lost her son. Thank you.

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Thank you very much, thank you. >> He hit the nail on the head in terms of how a lot of us are struggling. To find ways to talk about what is happening in the Middle East and how it's been said. With the focus is. Whether it is demonization or information. How does it all come out. I will speak with a rabbi and mom right here in studio to tell me what they are saying to