In this critical examination we embark on a nuanced journey to unravel the intricacies of Hasbara, Israel’s strategic communication and propaganda effort. We aim to dissect and counter various facets of the Israeli propaganda, from the purported humanitarian nature of the IDF to the claims of Hamas using human shields, and beyond. We will scrutinize the propaganda surrounding the events of October 7, the mistreatment of hostages, the positioning of command centers under hospitals, and more. Our goal is to provide a comprehensive analysis that not only questions the dominant narratives but also offers a clearer understanding of the truth.
Table of Contents
What is the Hasbara Manual?
Any discussion on Israeli propaganda needs to begin with hasbara. Literally translated from Hebrew as ‘explanation,’ hasbara transcends mere dissemination of information; it represents a concerted effort by the Israeli state to shape global perceptions and narratives about its policies and actions, especially regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Initially conceived as a means to convey Israel’s perspective and historical context, hasbara has evolved into a robust mechanism of public diplomacy, often aimed at countering criticism and negative portrayals of Israel on the international stage. This strategy encompasses a spectrum of activities, from engaging with the media and orchestrating social media campaigns to organizing speaking events and other forms of persuasive communication. The essence of hasbara lies in its ability to influence international opinion, a tool that has become pivotal in the ongoing battle for narrative control in one of the world’s last colonial occupation.
The hasbara manual provides talking points for people (mostly outside of Israel), especially those in the media and high positions to paint Israel in a positive light in all cases. Here are some examples:
Hasbara Topic: Israel has a right to defend itself.
- Hasbara Explanation: Israel, like any sovereign nation, has the right to defend itself against external threats, including rocket attacks and terrorism from groups like Hamas.
- True Explanation: Critics argue that while self-defense is a right, the manner and scale of Israel’s responses often result in disproportionate harm to Palestinian civilians and infrastructure, raising questions about the methods used in the name of self-defense. In addition, an occupying force does not have a right to defend itself against the occupied population.
Hasbara Topic: Israeli Settlements in the West Bank
- Hasbara Explanation: The settlements are seen as a legitimate expression of Israel’s historical and cultural connection to the land and are often described as a response to security needs.
- True Explanation: International critics and many Palestinian voices argue that these settlements are illegal under international law, contribute to the displacement of Palestinians, and are an obstacle to peace by eroding the possibility of a contiguous Palestinian state.
Other examples of the hasbara at work is shown in this article:
“How about the right of return for Palestinian refugees who were expelled or fled in 1948 and in the following years, and who are not allowed to go back to their homes? Here Dr Luntz has subtle advice for spokesmen, saying that “the right of return is a tough issue for Israelis to communicate effectively because much of Israeli language sounds like the ‘separate but equal’ words of the 1950s segregationists and the 1980s advocates of Apartheid. The fact is, Americans don’t like, don’t believe and don’t accept the concept of ‘separate but equal’. So how should spokesmen deal with what the booklet admits is a tough question? They should call it a “demand”, on the grounds that Americans don’t like people who make demands. “Then say ‘Palestinians aren’t content with their own state. Now they’re demanding territory inside Israel’.” Other suggestions for an effective Israeli response include saying that the right of return might become part of a final settlement “at some point in the future”.
Next, lets examine various Israeli talking points and evaluate its truth in light of the Israeli Hasbara.
Dispelling the Propaganda
Hamas is using civilians as human shields, leading to the high number of Palestinians being killed.
Israeli Explanation: Israel performs “pinpoint attacks” to target only the Hamas terrorists. Hamas is using Palestinian civilians as human shields, resulting in many civilian deaths. Hamas is at fault for civilian deaths, not the IDF, which is the most moral military in the world.
True Explanation: It is disinformation to claim that any party other than the state of Israel who has dropped more than 25,000 tonnes of bombs and missiles is responsible for civilian death (as of Nov. 11, 2023). Israel is dropping bombs at a rate of 6,000 per week almost all are in civilian areas such as homes, refugee camps, hospitals, and bakeries. In only the first week of bombing, Israel has already exceeded the number of bombs dropped by the US in Afghanistan in one year.
Furthermore, this is little to no evidence that Hamas is using civilians as human shields. On the contrary, human rights organizations such as Amnesty International reports that IDF is guilty of human shielding in 2014:
“Amnesty International is monitoring and investigating such reports, but does not have evidence at this point that Palestinian civilians have been intentionally used by Hamas or Palestinian armed groups during the current hostilities to “shield” specific locations or military personnel or equipment from Israeli attacks.“
In fact, has documented incidents in a report providing evidence that it is the IDF that is using the Palestinians as human shields (see page 12 of the Amnesty International report below:
“The IDF systematically compelled Palestinians to take part in military operations. Several Palestinians interviewed by Amnesty International in relation to other subjects said that they
had been compelled to take part in military operations and as “human shields”. These practices violate international humanitarian law. Although the IDF announced through the
State Attorney on 24 May 2002 that it would not use civilians in military operations, Amnesty International has continued to receive reports of cases in which Palestinians were used by
members of the IDF during military operations, including as “human shields.”
Human Rights Watch writes:
“Faisal Abu Sariya, a forty-two-year-old schoolteacher, also was used as a human shield by the IDF and forced to carry out dangerous tasks. …For the next two days, Abu Sariya was coerced into accompanying the soldiers, to enter homes even before the IDF soldiers sent in their bomb-sniffing dogs, and to march in front of the soldiers as they moved in the streets of Jenin refugee camp. (2002)”
More recent incidences have been documented where the IDF has been using Palestinian children as human shields can be found here:
“Israeli forces then threatened his sons Nidal, 9, and Karam, 11, in addition to his twin nephews, Ahmad and Mohammad, both two years old, and forced them to stand in front of Israeli military vehicles while Israeli forces fired tear gas canisters, stun grenades, and live ammunition at Palestinians confronting the group of soldiers.”
The BBC reports: “Rabbis for Human Rights say that Mohammed Badwan was tied by police to a jeep during a recent demonstration in the West Bank village of Bidou….Rabbis for Human Rights also say that the boy was beaten by Israeli police before being arrested.”
The video summaries a list of document cases of human shield activity by the IDF.
Hamas is mistreating and abusing Israeli hostages
When addressing hostages, we must begin by stating that we condemn taking innocent civilians, men, women, and children as hostages, both by Hamas as well as the thousands of political prisoners by Israel. It is truly tragic and does not aid the peace process in any way whatsoever.
Israeli Explanation: Israeli hostages were abused, mistreated and underwent sexual violence.
True Explanation: The truth is we dont know how the hostages were truly treated. The Israeli government has prevented the hostages from speaking out. The truth is that hostage taking of civilians is considered a war crime. In the small amount of evidence and videos available, we know that released hostages appeared physically healthy. Their mental state may be severely impacted. We will list below what we do know based on the few statements and videos of released hostages.
Yocheved Lifshitz, an 85 year old released hostage describes her captivity as follows: “I went through hell, but was treated well. See the video below for details:
Lifshitz described the Hamas captors as “gentle with us” and “our needs were supplied,” and “they treated us kindly.”
Sharon Lifshitz, the daughter of Yocheved mentioned, “My mom is speaking about the time there. She’s telling us about sharing food with the people, that the people, when she first arrived, they told them that they are Muslims and they’re not going to hurt them, and that they shared — they ate the same food that the Hamas was eating.”
Other reports in the Israeli media corroborate this treatment of the hostages. See the Instgram post below:
Other videos showing the release of the hostages indicate that they were treated with respect and were physically taken care of.
The beheadings of 40 Babies
Israeli Explanation: On October 7th, Babies were beheaded and homes were burnt to the ground by Hamas.
True Explanation: FactCheck.org and many other reports have stated that there is no evidence that 40 Israeli babies were beheaded. The US government even walked back the statement of Joe Biden regarding the claim that babies were beheaded.
Exactly what happened on October 7th may never truly be revealed. However, there are reports from Israeli citizens that the IDF fired and killed Israeli citizens. See the video below for a translation of an interview of a citizen who was initially taken hostage by Hamas fighters.
The following is excerpt of the interview from the Electronic Intifada website:
“An Israeli woman who survived the Hamas assault on settlements near the Gaza boundary on 7 October says Israeli civilians were “undoubtedly” killed by their own security forces. It happened when Israeli forces engaged in fierce gun battles with Palestinian fighters in Kibbutz Be’eri and fired indiscriminately at both the fighters and their Israeli prisoners. “They eliminated everyone, including the hostages,” she told Israeli radio. “There was very, very heavy crossfire” and even tank shelling.”
Command Center under Al-Shifa hospital
Israeli Explanation: The Israeli military has claimed that the Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza was used as a “command and control center” by Hamas. According to this narrative, the hospital’s infrastructure housed tunnels and facilities instrumental for Hamas’s military operations, thus legitimizing it as a target for Israeli airstrikes. This claim has been used to justify attacks near or around the hospital, despite the presence of thousands of civilians seeking refuge and medical care there.
True Explanation: Independent investigations and reports from human rights organizations challenge the Israeli narrative. No concrete evidence has been publicly presented to substantiate the claim that Al-Shifa Hospital was used as a military base by Hamas. Critics argue that such allegations against medical facilities in conflict zones are serious and require substantial proof, given the grave implications for civilian safety and international humanitarian law.
“Israel has failed to provide anywhere even close to the level of evidence required to justify the narrow exception under which hospitals can be targeted under the laws of war,” said Mai El-Sadany, a human rights lawyer and the executive director of the Tahrir Institute for Middle East Policy, in Washington.” (The Guardian)
International bodies, including the United Nations and the Red Cross, emphasize the protected status of medical facilities in wartime under the Geneva Conventions. They stress that targeting hospitals, even under suspicion of military use, is subject to strict verification processes and considerations of proportionality and necessity. The absence of transparent evidence and the high risk to civilian lives have led many to view the Israeli claims with skepticism.
Furthermore, the narrative of militarization of medical facilities has been critiqued as a tactic to deflect international scrutiny and justify military actions in densely populated civilian areas. The reliance on unverified claims about Al-Shifa Hospital fits into a broader pattern observed by analysts, where allegations are used to rationalize actions that have significant humanitarian consequences.
The claim regarding Al-Shifa Hospital must be contextualized within the broader historical pattern of Israeli military actions against medical facilities. Evidence indicates that Israel has previously targeted medical infrastructure in Gaza and other Palestinian territories.
For instance, during the 2014 Gaza War, also known as Operation Protective Edge, multiple reports, including those from the United Nations and human rights organizations, documented Israeli strikes on hospitals and clinics. The World Health Organization reported that 17 hospitals and 56 primary health clinics were damaged, and 45 ambulances were directly or indirectly hit. Once such incident is documented below and extracted from The United Nations Independent Commission of Inquiry on the 2014 Gaza Conflict
“Doctors working at the Abu Yousef Al Najjar Hospital in Rafah told the commission that, in the last days of July, many civilians had rushed to the hospital not to seek medical care but “because they felt that the hospital was the safest place for their families and children. On 1 August, as the security deteriorated, patients from Al Najjar hospital were transferred to the Kuwaiti hospital. According to eyewitnesses, two missiles struck the Al Najjar hospital, which caused destruction to some of the infrastructure such as the windows, doors and the air conditioning system. Ambulances were also hit. For instance, at around 3 p.m., an ambulance transporting injured civilians in the Msabbeh neighbourhood (such incident is documented below and extracted from The United Nations Independent Commission of Inquiry on the 2014 Gaza Conflict, page 101)”
Amnesty International reported in 2014:
“Today’s attack on the Al-Aqsa hospital is the latest in a series of attacks on and near medical facilities in Gaza, which have been struggling to cope with thousands of injured people since the Israeli offensive began on 8 July,” said Philip Luther, Director of the Middle East and North Africa Programme at Amnesty International. There can be no justification for targeting medical facilities at any time. Attacks on medical facilities underline the need for a prompt, impartial international investigation mandated by the UN.”
In another documented instance, the 2009 Gaza War (Operation Cast Lead) saw similar patterns. Amnesty International reported that Israeli forces had shelled Al-Quds Hospital in Gaza City, causing fire and panic among the patients and staff. This attack was part of a broader trend observed during the conflict, where medical facilities and personnel were not spared.
These historical precedents contribute to the skepticism surrounding Israeli claims about military use of medical facilities. They provide evidence about the lack of adherence to international laws that safeguard medical establishments in conflict zones. The recurrence of such incidents suggests a pattern that goes beyond isolated incidents, pointing to a possible strategy that undermines the sanctity of medical services in times of war.
Considering this historical context, coupled with recent reports from the World Health Organization (WHO) documenting that, as of November 12, 2023, there have been 137 attacks on healthcare in Gaza, resulting in at least 521 fatalities, including 16 medical workers, the allegations against Al-Shifa Hospital demand rigorous independent investigation and accountability. These incidents underscore the urgent need for Israel to strictly adhere to international humanitarian law, particularly concerning the protection of medical facilities and personnel. This adherence is not just a legal obligation but a moral imperative to preserve the sanctity of healthcare services in conflict zones. To conclude this this topic, we recommend the reader watch the following video that documents many of the hospitals that were attached by the IDF over the last decade.
True Explanation:
The Terrorist List
Israeli Explanation: An IDF soldier says infamously, “there is a list” of Hamas hostage guardians. This was shared by Israel and broadcasted by US news organizations such as CNN. It provided evidence of the presence of Hamas utilizing hospitals as command centers.
True Explanation: The “list” was simply a calendar with days of the week in Arabic. This was used as evidence to attack Al-Rantisi Children’s Hospital in Gaza. Many news organizations have debunked this piece of propaganda. This piece of propaganda was so poor that it has become a meme on social media similar to the “Palestinian nurse” discussed below. CNN has not seemed to retract their report, instead quietly removing it from their video.
The Palestinian Nurse
Israeli Explanation: The state of Israel shared a video of supposed Palestinian nurse who claimed that Hamas was preventing hospital staff from leaving the hospital and holding the hospital hostage.
True Explanation: This video that was shared on Tiktok and other social media platforms was determined to be false propaganda. Many news organizations have determined this as false.
The IDF is the Most Moral Army in the World
Israeli Explanation: The IDF is the most moral army in the world. They provide notifications to citizens prior to bombing any target.
True Explanation: The truth is that IDF is committing an indescribable number of war crimes and cannot be considered a moral army. Lets discuss some of the immoral and unethical activity of the IDF:
Bombing Notifications – The IDF dropped leaflets informing Palestinian citizens to move south to safe zones. However, these “safe zones” were attacked. Al Jazeera reports:
“Israel’s relentless bombardment of the Gaza Strip has hit areas it had told Palestinians to evacuate to in the territory’s south.“
This is far from an isolated incident. Prior to the truce, Israel forced 1.1 million citizens to move to Khan Yunus and out of Gaza City. After the truce Khan Yunus was the center of the bombardment. Even in Rafa, the southern most city in Gaza was not spared. Rafah was declared a safe zone by Israel and ordered all Gazans to relocate to Rafah.
The 2.3 million civilians have literally nowhere to go. Displaced from the north to Khan Yunus and then forced out of Khan Yunus to Rafah which is still bombed.
“They want people to die,” Alyan said of the Israeli military’s additional evacuation orders. “What is happening to us is not war on the resistance, but a war on people, a war on citizens.”
Muhammad Alyan, Palestinian citizen
“Execution style killings” of women and children – The IDF is being accused of “execution style killings” of women and children within a UN school where civilians were sheltering.
Al-Jazeera and eye-witnesses reported the war crime here. Other news organizations have reported it as well.
“The Israeli soldiers came in and opened fire on them,” one unidentified witness said. “They took all men, then entered classrooms and opened fire on a woman and all the children with her,” including “newborn children.” The Israeli soldiers executed those innocent families point-blank,” she added.”
Humiliation of Palestinian men – The world is outraged at images and videos of Palestinian men stripped naked and forced to kneel, blindfolded and bound to Israeli soldiers. Footage also shows these bound men forced to lay in wait in ditches. This has been reported by all news organizations. Videos of the gruesome images are shown below to provide evidence of this dehumanization of the Palestinians.
These videos are stark reminders of the abuse of Iraqis by American soldiers as well as the treatment of Jews by Nazi Germany.
This has not been limited to just Gaza. The Palestinian men in the West Bank have also been humiliated, stripped naked and tortured.
Destruction of Places of Worship – Another incident shown below shows an IDF soldier throwing a stun grenade in a mosque in the West Bank during the call to prayer, fully knowing that the mosque would be filled with worshippers.
Places of worship such as mosques, churches, and synagogues should be protected, not desecrated. Dozens of mosques have been destroyed in Gaza as well.
Many human rights organizations including Euro-Med have declared these violations of international law:
“Israel has targeted dozens of mosques and churches in the Gaza Strip as part of its ongoing assault, which is now in its second month, Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor said in a new statement released today. Israel’s bombing of places of worship is in clear violation of international humanitarian law and the laws of war, the organisation said.“
Conclusion
In this comprehensive exploration, “Dispelling the Israeli Propaganda Machine,” we have critically examined the multifaceted nature of Hasbara, shedding light on the contradictions within Israel’s strategic communication and propaganda. From debunking claims of humanitarian intentions to challenging narratives surrounding military actions and examining the alleged misuse of civilian infrastructure, our analysis has aimed to provide a clearer understanding of these attrocities. By contrasting official Israeli explanations with alternative perspectives and evidence, we have endeavored to navigate through the fog of war rhetoric, offering insights into the realities of the Israel-Palestine conflict. This journey underscores the importance of questioning dominant narratives, seeking truth amidst propaganda, and striving for a more informed and empathetic understanding of one of the most enduring and propaganda driven conflicts of our time.
References
- https://www.thenation.com/article/world/israel-gaza-propaganda-biden/
- https://www.hrw.org/news/2023/11/14/gaza-unlawful-israeli-hospital-strikes-worsen-health-crisis
- https://www.newarab.com/news/understanding-hasbara-israels-propaganda-machine
- https://www.albawaba.net/news/israel-hasbara-handbook-how-to-influence-media–593101
- https://www.declassifieduk.org/israel-is-targeting-the-british-public-with-war-propaganda/
- https://electronicintifada.net/blogs/ali-abunimah/watch-debunking-israels-mass-rape-propaganda
- https://www.middleeasteye.net/opinion/-palestine-gaza-israel-debunking-top-ten-propaganda-points
- https://news.yahoo.com/cnn-quietly-cut-disputed-israeli-005939159.html
- https://www.jordannews.jo/Section-20/Middle-East/Israeli-army-s-hospital-claim-in-Gaza-debunked-32311
- https://electronicintifada.net/content/israeli-forces-shot-their-own-civilians-kibbutz-survivor-says/38861
- https://web.archive.org/web/20231013014408/https://www.cnn.com/2023/10/12/middleeast/israel-hamas-beheading-claims-intl
- https://www.factcheck.org/2023/10/what-we-know-about-three-widespread-israel-hamas-war-claims/
- https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/israeli-hostage-handshake-hamas-rcna121852
- https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/10/24/israeli-captive-endured-hell-in-attack-but-treated-well-in-gaza
- https://www.democracynow.org/2023/10/24/headlines/freed_israeli_hostage_yocheved_lifshitz_says_she_was_treated_well_by_hamas_captors
- https://www.unrwa.org/2014-gaza-conflict
- https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2014/07/israelgaza-attacks-medical-facilities-and-civilians-add-war-crime-allegations/
- https://www.ohchr.org/en/hr-bodies/hrc/co-i-gaza-conflict/report-co-i-gaza
- https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/nov/17/idf-evidence-so-far-falls-well-short-of-al-shifa-hospital-being-hamas-hq
- https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20231117-bbc-verify-displays-its-analysis-refuting-israeli-claims-against-al-shifa-hospital/
- https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/hrw-israeli-evidence-so-far-insufficient-revoke-shifas-protections-2023-11-16/
- https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/11/16/what-has-israel-found-in-gazas-al-shifa-hospital
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