‘Israel’ warps reality, funds twisted ads to 'justify' Gaza genocide
6 Min Read
In addition to the harrowing military aggression and total blockade against Gaza, "Israel" launches an extensive disinformation campaign.
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‘Israel’ embarks on a huge disinformation campaign (Illustrated by Arwa Makki, Al Mayadeen English)
Amid a hysteric military aggression on Gaza, "Israel" conducts a widespread misinformation and incitement campaign through various media outlets and social platforms. The primary targets of this campaign are Palestinians, and it aims to dehumanize and demonize them, potentially paving the way to "justify" genocide.
The Israeli occupation has reportedly intensified its efforts to manipulate public perception and shape the narrative surrounding the ongoing Israeli brutality. Traditional media, as well as social media platforms like YouTube and X, have become battlegrounds for this disinformation campaign.
Blue, pink and yellow unicorns: One example of 'Israel's' war propaganda
Social media users have reported unsettling advertisements that signal a new phase. Among these ads, one cartoon stands out, which opens with nursery music and whimsical visuals.
The cartoon ad immediately captures viewers' attention with a seemingly innocent scene, featuring blue, pink, and yellow unicorns playfully leaping around. The backdrop is adorned with rainbows, fluffy clouds, and smiley stars. The overall aesthetic exudes an air of childlike innocence and happiness, which seems far removed from the grim reality of the Israeli war machine.
However, the ad takes a dark turn as the cheerful imagery suddenly transitions into a jarring and disturbing message. The abrupt shift in tone is designed to shock and provoke an emotional response. Users who have encountered the ad report feelings of discomfort and unease as they realize the sinister intent behind the seemingly harmless visuals.
“40 infants were murdered in Israel” quickly appears on the screen, “by the HAMAS terrorists (ISIS). Just as you would do everything for your child. We will do everything to protect ours.”
“Now hug your baby and stand with us,” reappears as the nursery music resumes, followed by an image of the Israeli emblem.
British rapper and activist Lowkey expressed on X through a recorded video that "Israel" is spending money to have advertisements appear before videos targeted at children on YouTube.
Israel is paying YouTube to place adverts like this before videos aimed at children..
— Lowkey (@Lowkey0nline) October 12, 2023
No words.... pic.twitter.com/QK6qa1s3Vl
The particular claim that 40 babies were killed in Operation Al-Aqsa flood on Saturday has been debunked as being part of the Israeli misinformation campaign.
Anadolu Agency reported that Israeli authorities have lately refuted claims of "Hamas beheading babies," which were initially propagated through unverified information by Israeli i24 TV correspondent Nicole Zedeck.
Zedeck, attached to an Israeli Security Forces unit in "Kfar Azza", alleged that her unit's commander had informed her of the discovery of 40 deceased babies, some of whom had been "beheaded by terrorists." However, she later contradicted herself, stating that "soldiers told me they believe 40 babies/children were killed." There was no evidence presented for these claims, and Zedeck's source, Israeli soldiers, had not actually witnessed the alleged events.
Western media outlets such as CNN, Fox News, and Business Insider rushed to amplify these baseless claims, inaccurately attributing them to Hamas and framing them as factual events. US President Joe Biden cited these unverified reports during a White House address, condemning them as "sheer evil" while failing to acknowledge Israeli atrocities against Palestinian civilians.
In the same context, Oren Oziv, a journalist based in "Israel" and part of the group of journalists who were admitted into a media tour of the "Kfar Azza" settlement, denied reports of "Hamas beheading children."
Furthermore, Hamas issued a statement in this regard, denying "the fabricated media narratives [circulating about the faction], the latest of which is the allegation that the resistance killed and beheaded children."
"The baseless allegations promoted by some Western media outlets unprofessionally adopt the Zionist narrative which is full of lies," they added.
AI-generated photos: Yet another example
"Israel" has shared both censored and uncensored images of the alleged casualties resulting from the operation on X.
Some foreign users suggested that these images were artificially generated by AI to mislead the public by depicting Israeli children as if they were burned alive.
American YouTuber Ben Shapiro shares a photo made with artificial intelligence to continue his lie that the Gaza resistance killed and burned 40 children. pic.twitter.com/u2OIzi0Wy0
— PALESTINE ONLINE 🇵🇸 (@OnlinePalEng) October 13, 2023
Neocon child actor @benshapiro has promoted an AI generated image he claimed showed an Israeli baby burned by Hamas militants
— Max Blumenthal (@MaxBlumenthal) October 13, 2023
Did Netanyahu’s office show similarly fabricated images to Joe Biden and Tony Blinken? pic.twitter.com/Hq68JQQ6Yj
Other social media users questioned whether the Israeli occupation's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu showed similar fabricated images to the US President Joe Biden.
Meanwhile, the appearance of such content on social media platforms has raised questions about the role of information warfare in the ongoing Israeli aggression on Gaza.
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Social media companies are under increased pressure to address and remove such content, which manipulates public perception during times when many warn that "Israel" is committing genocide in Gaza. As the Israeli propaganda continues, users remain vigilant for further attempts to exploit digital spaces for political or ideological agendas.
Israeli Ads target everyone including children and teenagers
Social media users have brought attention to pro-"Israel" advertisements on YouTube. One of these ads, titled "Hamas Declares War Against Israel," combines audio clips of explosions, screams, and gunfire with a fast-paced, cinematic narration. The narrator emphasizes that it is a war and stresses that "Israel" will employ all required measures to "safeguard its citizens."
The same video can also be found on the YouTube channel of the Israeli Foreign Ministry.
“My little brother just got a youtube ad on a kids gaming video from israel saying israel is at war like wtf,” said one user on X.
Israel uses YouTube advertisements to declare that Hamas has declared war on the country, with some calling the ad “propaganda”https://t.co/Y5xsk4jUiP
— Distinct Post. (@DistinctPost) October 9, 2023
A search of Google's Ad Transparency Center revealed that the has been running multiple ads in recent days, including the one featuring children being killed.
This is genocide
Meanwhile, the Israeli bombing of besieged Gaza continued throughout Thursday night for the sixth consecutive day since the launching of the Palestinian Resistance Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, last Saturday morning, in response to the ongoing unbearable Israeli crimes against Palestinians.
A father and his child in #Palestine comfort each other after being targeted by the Israeli war machines. The IOF is deliberately targeting residential neighborhoods, leveling whole buildings to the ground atop civilians in #Gaza.#PalestineUnderAttack #GazaUnderAttack pic.twitter.com/gjEWEhUMSx
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) October 13, 2023
"I just want to play"
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) October 13, 2023
A #Palestinian child endures the worst kind of torture under the Israeli occupation, which systematically violates their fundamental human rights.#PalestineUnderAttack #GazaUnderAttack pic.twitter.com/sOqCnUaZ08
The dark-time airstrikes were one of the most violent yet, targeting entire residential neighborhoods and buildings, leaving nothing but dust, debris, and casualties behind as the number of martyrs continued to rise horrifically.
Read more: Israelis mulling 'Leningrad approach' in Gaza: Seymour Hersh report
The Palestinian Health Ministry revealed on Thursday that the total number of Palestinian martyrs in the brutal Israeli aggression has surpassed 1,500 and the wounded are now over 6,600, noting that over half of the martyrs are children and women: 447 children and 248 women.
Read next: Factcheck: 'Israel' has no information on Hamas murdering babies
