From the outset of its genocidal war on Gaza, Israel recognized the digital space as a crucial battleground, having long understood the power of online narratives. Alongside its destruction and cleansing efforts on the ground, it waged a relentless digital war aimed at silencing the Palestinian narrative.
Employing a range of strategies to dominate the digital discourse, Israel invested vast resources to suppress Palestinian voices online. Yet, despite its extensive capabilities, controlling the digital narrative has proven far more challenging, as efforts to erase Palestinian realities online mirror its actions on the ground.
As a key tactic in its digital warfare, Israel deployed disinformation campaigns to discredit Palestinians, erode empathy for them, delegitimize their claims, and justify its genocidal attacks.
Massive Disinformation Campaign
In the aftermath of October 7, 2023, Israel launched a massive influence operation and disinformation campaign to justify its large-scale attacks on Palestinian civilians and infrastructure in the besieged Gaza Strip. Simultaneously, these efforts aimed to delegitimize Palestinian claims to their land and rights while dehumanizing them.
