Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in South Lebanon: Israeli drone strike targets vehicle on Zahrani - Tyre Highway.
Israeli media: Israeli Prime Minister's Office: The security cabinet has approved Netanyahu's proposal on Gaza.
Al Mayadeen correspondent: The Lebanese Council of Ministers approved the general objectives of the US paper unanimously by the ministers who remained in the session.
Hezbollah, Amal Movement ministers withdraw from the Lebanese cabinet session as it discusses the proposal of US envoy Tom Barrack.
Al Mayadeen correspondent: An Israeli drone bombed a car in the town of Kfardan in the Baalbek district.
Al Mayadeen’s correspondent: An Israeli raid targeted the outskirts of the town of al-Qatrani, Jezzine District
Al Mayadeen’s correspondent: Israeli warplanes launch a raid targeting the vicinity of the Burguz area
Al Mayadeen’s correspondent in southern Lebanon: An Israeli airstrike targeted the outskirts of Jbaa in the Iqlim al-Tuffah region
Al Mayadeen’s correspondent in southern Lebanon: An Israeli airstrike targeted the outskirts of the town of Ansar
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in southern Lebanon: Israeli warplanes launched a series of airstrikes on the al-Mahmoudiyah area

'Israel' floods Europe with Google ads to justify Gaza, Iran attacks

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: MintPress
  • 18 Jul 2025 23:00
  • 5 Shares
7 Min Read

Since June 13, 2024, "Israel’s" government has spent tens of millions on YouTube ads promoting its military actions as humanitarian defense.

Listen
  • x
  • Google helped 'Israel' spread war propaganda” to 45 million Europeans
    The body of a Palestinian killed in an Israeli army airstrike is brought to Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, on March 18, 2025 (AP)

A MintPress investigation found that since "Israel’s" attack on Iran on June 13, the Israeli government’s ad agency has spent tens of millions on ads on YouTube alone. These ads, in clear violation of Google’s policies, justify and praise the attack as a "necessary defense of Western civilization."

The Israeli ads portray "Israel" as a savior of the Palestinian people. One video from the Foreign Ministry, set to epic inspiring music, describes "Israel" as carrying out “one of the largest humanitarian operations in the world right now."

This is what is advertised, although ninety-four percent of Gaza’s hospitals have been destroyed or damaged, and more than 1,400 medical personnel have been killed. This includes Dr. Adnan al-Bursh, head of orthopedics at Al-Shifa Hospital.

Moreover, "Israel" has killed or injured over 50,000 Palestinian children, according to UNICEF. 

Paid, inorganic content

According to Alan MacLeod of MintPress, all videos listed in Google’s Ad Transparency Center are paid content from the Israeli government’s ad agency, with strong evidence showing few, if any, of the millions of views are organic. For example, five versions of the “Humanitarian Aid to Gaza” video collectively show only a few thousand likes, about 1% of the expected number for videos with such high views, and just two comments in total.

The difference between organic and paid content is clearer in videos "Israel" does not promote, which get only dozens of daily views rather than millions, strongly indicating nearly 100% of views come from paid ads.

Iran in the crosshairs

“A fanatical regime firing missiles at civilians, while racing towards nuclear weapons. While Iran deliberately targets cities, Israel acts with precision to dismantle this threat.” This is how one Israeli government ad, which hundreds of thousands of YouTube viewers in Europe have been compelled to watch, starts.

“Terror architects behind the elimination of Israel plan: eliminated. Israel targets only military and terror sites, not civilians. But the threat remains,” the voiceover continues, over ominous music and high-tech graphics. “We will finish the mission for our people, for humanity. Israel does what must be done,” it concludes.

One video after another

“Iran’s ballistic missile program isn’t just a threat to Israel, it is a threat to Europe and the Western world,” another, seen by 1.5 million viewers in just three weeks, claims. “Iran is developing missiles with ranges of approximately 4000 km. That places Europe within the regime’s striking distance,” it adds, as graphics show virtually the entire continent turning blood red, signifying a nuclear attack.

Related News

Google signed off on Project Nimbus despite warnings of misuse

Google workers rise: Unmasking fear of 'Israel's' AutoML use

“This isn’t tomorrow’s threat. It is today’s reality. The threat posed by the Iranian regime must be stopped. Israel does what must be done.”

Ominous messages like these, translated into multiple languages, have reached tens of millions of people across Europe. Other Israeli government ads spice it up a little bit, attempting to present "Israel" as a victim that was forced into war.

One commercial notes: "Imagine this: you are holding your newborn in a hospital room. Then the air raid sirens go off. Iran fires ballistic missiles at hospitals, at innocent Israelis. Patients, doctors, newborn babies: deliberately targeted. While Iran aims at families and children, Israel responds with precision, striking military sites. This is not a war of choice. Those who target civilians and hospitals become the target.”

The Israeli claims really do raise eyebrows. Around 935 Iranians were killed in Israeli strikes, compared to just 28 Israelis, which is clear proof of "Israel's" indiscriminate attacks, which almost always happen without warning. It is another proof of "Israel's" unwillingness to avoid civilian deaths, unlike its opponent, with its attacks starting with a heads-up due to the distance the missiles and drones have to cover. Moreover, "Israel", with the US' help, was after Iran's nuclear facilities, with all the catastrophic repercussions any such attacks could lead to. 

Foreign PR budget increased by 2,000%

The scale of this PR operation is staggering. Despite raising taxes and cutting domestic spending, the Israeli government increased its foreign PR budget by over 2,000%, with the Foreign Ministry receiving an extra $150 million for public diplomacy.

Much of this money is clearly spent on ads. Last month alone, the Foreign Ministry’s videos surpassed 45 million views on YouTube, targeting countries like the UK, France, Italy, Germany, and Greece.

Greece is notable: Over the past 12 months, "Israel’s" government ad agency funded 65 separate YouTube ad campaigns targeting Greece. A recent Greek-language ad depicts the occupation as a charitable supporter of life in Gaza, gaining over a million views in just four days, about 10% of Greece’s total population. The video currently has no comments and fewer than 3,000 likes.

The Foreign Ministry posts videos in English, French, German, Italian, and Greek. Non-native language countries like Slovakia, Denmark, and the Netherlands are also targeted, usually receiving the English version.

"Israel" avoids targeting countries whose governments have officially condemned its actions, such as Ireland and Spain, spending nothing to reach their populations. The Netanyahu administration appears to focus on rallying support in allied countries even as public opinion turns increasingly against "Israel".

While these numbers may shock readers, this investigation covers only one ad agency, the Israeli government’s, and one platform, YouTube. It excludes other Israeli government and NGO organizations and numerous pro-"Israel" lobbying groups in the West. "Israel" has also tried to influence discussions on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter. What is shown here is only a small part of a broader campaign.

Policy enforcement and narrative control efforts

Google’s ad policies explicitly ban ads that “display shocking content or promote hatred, intolerance, discrimination, or violence.” Yet many of these ads openly justify Israeli aggression.

MintPress News asked Google about how much the Israeli government’s ad agency spent on ads, their reach, whether Google responded to criticism, and if these videos violated policies.

Google did not answer the first three questions but reiterated that it has “strict ad policies that govern the types of ads we allow on our platform," which are publicly available and applied consistently and without bias. They added, "If we find ads that violate those policies, we swiftly remove them,” implying these ads do not breach their standards.

Facing mounting criticism, the Israeli government has sought to change the narrative by inviting influencers to speak directly with Netanyahu. In April, Netanyahu met with conservative digital figures like Tim Pool, Dave Rubin, Sean Spicer, Bethany Mandel, David Harris Jr., Jessica Kraus, Seth Mandel, and Molly Hemingway to discuss promoting the war on Iran in Western public opinion and countering online anti-Israeli sentiment. Other social media personalities report being offered large sums for brief pro-"Israel" endorsements.

Changing European public opinion remains a tough task for "Israel" as it continues to spend millions daily on ad campaigns aimed at shifting public opinion. 

MacLeod contends that on YouTube alone, its paid ads, translated into five languages, reached at least 45 million people last month.

  • Google
  • Google AI
  • Israel
  • Israeli occupation
  • European Union
  • Europe
  • war on Gaza
  • Gaza
  • Iran

Most Read

Shiekh Naim Qassem giving a speech commemorating the anniversay of martyr Mohammed Saeed Izadi, August 5, 2025, in Lebanon

Sheikh Qassem threatens 'Israel', warns against foreign intervention

  • Politics
  • 5 Aug 2025
UAE lodges complaint against Israeli ambassador over 'misbehavior'

UAE lodges complaint against Israeli ambassador over 'misbehavior'

  • Politics
  • 1 Aug 2025
Protesters chant anti-Israeli slogans as they carry a banner that reads:" Freedom for Palestine, Alliance stop the war," during a demonstration in support of Palestinians in Gaza, outside the Israeli embassy, in Athens, Monday, June 9, 2025 (AP)

Athens mayor slams Israeli ambassador over Gaza war, graffiti claim

  • Politics
  • 3 Aug 2025
Hezbollah says disarming Resistance is a blow to Lebanon’s sovereignty

Hezbollah to overlook cabinet decision; Amal urges corrective approach

  • Politics
  • 6 Aug 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
Lebanese president Joseph Aoun, centre, leads a Cabinet meeting which is supposed to discuss the disarmament of Hezbollah, at the presidential palace in Baabda, east of Beirut, Lebanon, Thursday, August 7, 2025 (Lebanese Presidency press office)
Politics

Hezbollah, Amal ministers walk out of cabinet over US disarmament plot

Trucks carrying humanitarian aid, line up as they wait to enter Rafah crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip, Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Khaled Elfiqi)
Politics

Only 188 of 800 promised aid trucks entered Gaza: Euractiv

Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India listens to Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer as they meet for bilateral talks at Chequers near Aylesbury, England, Thursday, July 24, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Trump doubles tariffs on India over Russian oil despite partnership

Ansar Allah leader Sayyed Abdul-Malik Al-Houthi during a speech in Sanaa, Yemen, August 7, 2025 (Al Mayadeen screengrab)\
Politics

Al-Houthi slams Gaza blockade, warns against disarmament, aggression

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS