The Mediatization of War: A Roadmap for Research Based on the October 7, 2023, Hamas Attack on Israel

Profound shifts in media environments—marked by real-time broadcasting devices, ubiquitous smartphones, and networked social platforms—have intensified the mediatization of war. These dynamics were starkly evident during the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, when, for example, militants recorded their assault with GoPros and drones; civilians under fire livestreamed their experiences; vehicle, roadside, and security cameras captured unfolding events; and graphic materials spread rapidly via WhatsApp, Telegram, Facebook, and other platforms. Using this case as an empirical anchor, the article proposes an updated analytical framework for studying the mediatization of war—integrating multiple interrelated dimensions: (a) enabling technologies, (b) information producers, (c) information consumers, (d) characteristics of content production, and (e) wartime outcomes and implications. This multidimensional roadmap offers conceptual and methodological tools for examining technologically advanced conflicts, where communication technologies shape not only how wars are reported but also how they are experienced and remembered.