Please or to access all these features

Conflict in the Middle East

Has the West been taken in by Hamas’ lies and anti Israeli narrative?

207 replies

OpheliaWasntMad · 25/09/2026 16:59

https://nypost.com/2026/09/21/opinion/journalist-admits-anti-israel-narrative-driving-protests-is-based-on-hamas-lies/

This journalist admits that his reporting from Gaza was not accurate because he was afraid of retaliation from Hamas.
Why have so many believed every report from Gaza journalists?

Palestinian photojournalist Motaz Azaiza

Journalist admits: Anti-Israel narrative driving protests is based on Hamas lies

Journalist Motaz Azaiza’s new revelations exposing “SMART,” a Hamas-controlled group of reporters used to manage the media narrative about Gaza, reveal uncomfortable but important truths about near…

https://nypost.com/2026/09/21/opinion/journalist-admits-anti-israel-narrative-driving-protests-is-based-on-hamas-lies/

OP posts:
Thread gallery
6
Squeezingwildoranges · 25/09/2026 22:50

OpheliaWasntMad · 25/09/2026 22:01

There are different aspects of truth. Honest and good Israelis have their truth.
( I actually hate myself for saying that because I believe there is only ONE truth…. But we can only get to it by learning from each other )

There are no different aspects of truth. The truth is the truth. What there is, is different interpretations of the truth. A very different thing. I can honestly understand the concept that Jews need a safe homeland because of the sickening way they were treated in the Christian Western world. I have tried so hard to understand why it happened and all I can come up with is some bizarre ancient theological prejudice based on the betrayal of Jesus. Another consequence of this prejudice is that Jews have become very exclusive as a religion which I don't think has helped their cause. Problem I have is that the Palestinians are paying the price for what is a natural reaction to extreme Western antisemitism which resulted in the worst crime against humanity, the holocaust. The irony is, both the Jewish diaspora and the Palestinians have a close genetic association which goes back thousands of years. My frustration is that I believe that if these cousins could just figure out how to get on, even though it is such a small country, it would have an immeasurable effect on the rest of the world for the good.

Islandsofsand · 25/09/2026 22:44

Another documentary based on interviews with Israeli soldiers is Breaking Ranks:

“The soldiers’ testimonies included in “Breaking Ranks” said the war waged in Gaza was marked by relaxed rules of engagement leading to the gratuitous killing of innocents, the use of civilians as human shields and orders to destroy buildings without clear military justification.”

https://www.timesofisrael.com/british-doc-alleging-idf-misconduct-in-gaza-nominated-for-international-emmy/

Icanthinkformyselfthanks · 25/09/2026 22:43

@OpheliaWasntMad , Hamas wage war on two fronts. One is physical and the other is a propaganda war and they are increadibly good at that. They fight an extremely dirty war too not following any convention or law. They use their civilian population as human shields and when civilians are killed as a result it plays into their hands because it allows them to blame Isreal.
War is a terrible, terrible thing. Isreal has sought peace, Arabs live good, free lives in Isreal and Isreal has offered peace to the Palestinians but it is always rejected. The Palestinians and their supporters look for the annihilation of the Jews , they seek genocide.

OpheliaWasntMad · 25/09/2026 22:43

Islandsofsand · 25/09/2026 22:29

Take the documentary Naza- it got a 25 min standing ovation at its premiere whilst its Israeli directors faced vitriol in Israel.

Was Israel callously killing Palestinians?

Is there one truth? On balance - yes- we can’t be completely blind to what has happened in Gaza, but it’s too unpalatable and causes too much cognitive dissonance for some to fully accept.

But October 7th - that was my turning point.
an old woman with dementia and a terrified young woman with two lovely red haired babies being taken hostage , a delicately beautiful and naked dead woman paraded around as a trophy. The whole thing felt as ancient and savage as the sack of Troy,

And it was all filmed by Hamas . We know it happened.
And the very next day people celebrated in London . Near me .

OP posts:
ArcangelaTarabotti · 25/09/2026 22:40

I was in a pub tonight when some Hamas supporters were selling ‘newspapers’ peddling the myth. Obviously I did not engage or support. Wish tho’ that I had been braver and told them to fuck off.

Islandsofsand · 25/09/2026 22:29

OpheliaWasntMad · 25/09/2026 22:01

There are different aspects of truth. Honest and good Israelis have their truth.
( I actually hate myself for saying that because I believe there is only ONE truth…. But we can only get to it by learning from each other )

Take the documentary Naza- it got a 25 min standing ovation at its premiere whilst its Israeli directors faced vitriol in Israel.

Was Israel callously killing Palestinians?

Is there one truth? On balance - yes- we can’t be completely blind to what has happened in Gaza, but it’s too unpalatable and causes too much cognitive dissonance for some to fully accept.

OpheliaWasntMad · 25/09/2026 22:01

Squeezingwildoranges · 25/09/2026 21:55

Without a doubt! The thing is, a lot of war correspondents can be insanely careless. Look up Leonardo Henrichsen. It is madmen/heroes like this that we need on the ground in Gaza.

There are different aspects of truth. Honest and good Israelis have their truth.
( I actually hate myself for saying that because I believe there is only ONE truth…. But we can only get to it by learning from each other )

OP posts:
Squeezingwildoranges · 25/09/2026 22:01

Islandsofsand · 25/09/2026 21:40

They could even be killed by the IDF- even when wearing clothes highlighting they’re journalists.

The dangers for the journalists are indeed multi fold

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/world/british-journalist-survives-israel-strike-lebanon-rt-idf-b1275675.html

One of the problems when you program your AI driven drones to hunt down anyone wearing a journalist jacket. How could you let international journalists into Gaza and guarantee their safety when automated drones would hunt them down.

OpheliaWasntMad · 25/09/2026 21:57

Squeezingwildoranges · 25/09/2026 21:05

Isn't it fucking ridiculous that Martin Luther King Jnr made his I have a dream speech 63 years ago and we still haven't got the message. Imagine a country in the Middle East where you had the tenacity and ingenuity of Jews, Christians and Muslims all living in a country they all hold holy but living together as brothers and sisters. What happened in Deir Yassin was awful but what happened before is a beautiful model of what Israel could be.

But we all know that there are extremist Muslims who will never tolerate a Jewish Israel so the dream in this instance is always going to be challenged by Iran and others.

OP posts:
Squeezingwildoranges · 25/09/2026 21:55

OpheliaWasntMad · 25/09/2026 21:29

Some of them maybe.
But truth is always the first casualty of war

Without a doubt! The thing is, a lot of war correspondents can be insanely careless. Look up Leonardo Henrichsen. It is madmen/heroes like this that we need on the ground in Gaza.

Islandsofsand · 25/09/2026 21:40

Squeezingwildoranges · 25/09/2026 21:21

War correspondents have been doing that kind of thing for decades. Some have lost their lives as a result. The point is, war correspondents know the risk of their jobs. Other than being protected by the Geneva conventions, they all accept that they are responsible for their own safety.

They could even be killed by the IDF- even when wearing clothes highlighting they’re journalists.

The dangers for the journalists are indeed multi fold

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/world/british-journalist-survives-israel-strike-lebanon-rt-idf-b1275675.html

British journalist accuses Israel of trying to kill him after he is nearly blown up

Footage shows the moment Steven Sweeney was almost hit by an Israeli rocket, in a strike he claims was ‘deliberate’

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/world/british-journalist-survives-israel-strike-lebanon-rt-idf-b1275675.html

OpheliaWasntMad · 25/09/2026 21:29

Squeezingwildoranges · 25/09/2026 21:21

War correspondents have been doing that kind of thing for decades. Some have lost their lives as a result. The point is, war correspondents know the risk of their jobs. Other than being protected by the Geneva conventions, they all accept that they are responsible for their own safety.

Some of them maybe.
But truth is always the first casualty of war

OP posts:
Squeezingwildoranges · 25/09/2026 21:21

OpheliaWasntMad · 25/09/2026 21:15

I’m not as confident as you. The journalist in the headlines managed to get all his stories out . And then revealed he had to conceal stuff that didn’t fit with Hamas narrative

War correspondents have been doing that kind of thing for decades. Some have lost their lives as a result. The point is, war correspondents know the risk of their jobs. Other than being protected by the Geneva conventions, they all accept that they are responsible for their own safety.

OpheliaWasntMad · 25/09/2026 21:15

Squeezingwildoranges · 25/09/2026 21:10

That is a very valid point and I agree. I'm guessing the journalists would be clever enough to realise that though.

I’m not as confident as you. The journalist in the headlines managed to get all his stories out . And then revealed he had to conceal stuff that didn’t fit with Hamas narrative

OP posts:
Squeezingwildoranges · 25/09/2026 21:10

OpheliaWasntMad · 25/09/2026 21:05

No - I don’t think THEY would be threatened.( obviously) It would be their Palestinian sources who would be threatened

Edited

That is a very valid point and I agree. I'm guessing the journalists would be clever enough to realise that though.

OpheliaWasntMad · 25/09/2026 21:05

Boolabus · 25/09/2026 18:05

But I think the point is that there is very little reliable and fair reporting in this conflict.
From either side. I would give the most weight with the medical professionals and their testimonies when returning from Gaza.

But I think this raises the issue of whether it is even possible to be an independent journalist in Gaza when Hamas is the ruling authority
If independent professional war correspondents were threatened by Hamas they would report it. It would be part of their narrative, there is no reason why they should not be let in.

No - I don’t think THEY would be threatened.( obviously) It would be their Palestinian sources who would be threatened

OP posts:
Squeezingwildoranges · 25/09/2026 21:05

OpheliaWasntMad · 25/09/2026 20:46

I genuinely feel for Palestinians. They have been dealt a rough hand in terms of their leadership and in terms of the contempt the extreme right wing Israelis have for them. And I have been to Rafah and only met lovely people. ( And I would say the same about the lovely Israelis I met)
I have a background in Northern Ireland and I know how easy it is to demonise people. I think the Israelis ( and, by extension the Jewish world wide) are being demonised.
When I think of October 7th , the way in which Jewish people have been demonised for centuries, the Holocaust, the fact that Arab countries expelled their Jewish communities…. I understand their desire to have one safe place for Jews on this planet.
And I will always support that. ( but I don’t support atrocities against innocent Palestinians and those must be investigated)

Isn't it fucking ridiculous that Martin Luther King Jnr made his I have a dream speech 63 years ago and we still haven't got the message. Imagine a country in the Middle East where you had the tenacity and ingenuity of Jews, Christians and Muslims all living in a country they all hold holy but living together as brothers and sisters. What happened in Deir Yassin was awful but what happened before is a beautiful model of what Israel could be.

Islandsofsand · 25/09/2026 21:04

sorry for multiple posts - guess no harm repeating the message though

Islandsofsand · 25/09/2026 21:03

OpheliaWasntMad · 25/09/2026 20:46

I genuinely feel for Palestinians. They have been dealt a rough hand in terms of their leadership and in terms of the contempt the extreme right wing Israelis have for them. And I have been to Rafah and only met lovely people. ( And I would say the same about the lovely Israelis I met)
I have a background in Northern Ireland and I know how easy it is to demonise people. I think the Israelis ( and, by extension the Jewish world wide) are being demonised.
When I think of October 7th , the way in which Jewish people have been demonised for centuries, the Holocaust, the fact that Arab countries expelled their Jewish communities…. I understand their desire to have one safe place for Jews on this planet.
And I will always support that. ( but I don’t support atrocities against innocent Palestinians and those must be investigated)

I really feel for Jewish people who have suffered antisemitism because of what has happened in Gaza. The fault lies solely with the antisemites and shouldn’t be used to silence concerns about what has happened in Gaza.

Islandsofsand · 25/09/2026 21:03

OpheliaWasntMad · 25/09/2026 20:46

I genuinely feel for Palestinians. They have been dealt a rough hand in terms of their leadership and in terms of the contempt the extreme right wing Israelis have for them. And I have been to Rafah and only met lovely people. ( And I would say the same about the lovely Israelis I met)
I have a background in Northern Ireland and I know how easy it is to demonise people. I think the Israelis ( and, by extension the Jewish world wide) are being demonised.
When I think of October 7th , the way in which Jewish people have been demonised for centuries, the Holocaust, the fact that Arab countries expelled their Jewish communities…. I understand their desire to have one safe place for Jews on this planet.
And I will always support that. ( but I don’t support atrocities against innocent Palestinians and those must be investigated)

I really feel for Jewish people who have suffered antisemitism because of what has happened in Gaza. The fault lies solely with the antisemites and shouldn’t be used to silence concerns about what has happened in Gaza.

Islandsofsand · 25/09/2026 21:02

OpheliaWasntMad · 25/09/2026 20:46

I genuinely feel for Palestinians. They have been dealt a rough hand in terms of their leadership and in terms of the contempt the extreme right wing Israelis have for them. And I have been to Rafah and only met lovely people. ( And I would say the same about the lovely Israelis I met)
I have a background in Northern Ireland and I know how easy it is to demonise people. I think the Israelis ( and, by extension the Jewish world wide) are being demonised.
When I think of October 7th , the way in which Jewish people have been demonised for centuries, the Holocaust, the fact that Arab countries expelled their Jewish communities…. I understand their desire to have one safe place for Jews on this planet.
And I will always support that. ( but I don’t support atrocities against innocent Palestinians and those must be investigated)

I really feel for Jewish people who have suffered antisemitism because of what has happened in Gaza. The fault lies solely with the antisemites and shouldn’t be used to silence concerns about what has happened in Gaza.

Islandsofsand · 25/09/2026 21:02

OpheliaWasntMad · 25/09/2026 20:46

I genuinely feel for Palestinians. They have been dealt a rough hand in terms of their leadership and in terms of the contempt the extreme right wing Israelis have for them. And I have been to Rafah and only met lovely people. ( And I would say the same about the lovely Israelis I met)
I have a background in Northern Ireland and I know how easy it is to demonise people. I think the Israelis ( and, by extension the Jewish world wide) are being demonised.
When I think of October 7th , the way in which Jewish people have been demonised for centuries, the Holocaust, the fact that Arab countries expelled their Jewish communities…. I understand their desire to have one safe place for Jews on this planet.
And I will always support that. ( but I don’t support atrocities against innocent Palestinians and those must be investigated)

I really feel for Jewish people who have suffered antisemitism because of what has happened in Gaza. The fault lies solely with the antisemites and shouldn’t be used to silence concerns about what has happened in Gaza.

Islandsofsand · 25/09/2026 21:02

OpheliaWasntMad · 25/09/2026 20:46

I genuinely feel for Palestinians. They have been dealt a rough hand in terms of their leadership and in terms of the contempt the extreme right wing Israelis have for them. And I have been to Rafah and only met lovely people. ( And I would say the same about the lovely Israelis I met)
I have a background in Northern Ireland and I know how easy it is to demonise people. I think the Israelis ( and, by extension the Jewish world wide) are being demonised.
When I think of October 7th , the way in which Jewish people have been demonised for centuries, the Holocaust, the fact that Arab countries expelled their Jewish communities…. I understand their desire to have one safe place for Jews on this planet.
And I will always support that. ( but I don’t support atrocities against innocent Palestinians and those must be investigated)

I really feel for Jewish people who have suffered antisemitism because of what has happened in Gaza. The fault lies solely with the antisemites and shouldn’t be used to silence concerns about what has happened in Gaza.

OnePeppyFatball · 25/09/2026 20:53

OpheliaWasntMad · 25/09/2026 20:46

I genuinely feel for Palestinians. They have been dealt a rough hand in terms of their leadership and in terms of the contempt the extreme right wing Israelis have for them. And I have been to Rafah and only met lovely people. ( And I would say the same about the lovely Israelis I met)
I have a background in Northern Ireland and I know how easy it is to demonise people. I think the Israelis ( and, by extension the Jewish world wide) are being demonised.
When I think of October 7th , the way in which Jewish people have been demonised for centuries, the Holocaust, the fact that Arab countries expelled their Jewish communities…. I understand their desire to have one safe place for Jews on this planet.
And I will always support that. ( but I don’t support atrocities against innocent Palestinians and those must be investigated)

And that’s fine.

NullaEffugium · 25/09/2026 20:50

Why have so many believed every report from Gaza journalists?

In my opinion, reports by Gaza journalists have come under higher than usual scrutiny so the question really should be why have so few believed the reports from Gaza journalists, not so many.

Because Israel has denied entry of independent journalists since the start of the conflict. By independent, I mean a journalist who isn’t born and raised in the current war zone they are reporting from. This is going to create unconscious bias, it’s not a moral failing but a fact. Israel has only allowed carefully orchestrated tours of a few journalists with the IDF which also do not meet the criteria for independent journalism.

Gaza journalists are only tangentially linked to Hamas’ lies and propaganda. Hamas lies and propaganda have been coming from outside Gaza - eg the IRG, Hezbollah, Hamas officials living in countries outside the Palestinian Territories.

Swipe left for the next trending thread