Misinformation and Information Warfare Surge on Social Media Since Hamas' Attack on Israel
In the midst of one of the largest invasions witnessed in Israel in half a century, social media has become a battlefield where misinformation thrives and warring parties engage in information warfare.
One particularly alarming instance involved a widely circulated video depicting an Israeli airstrike. The video was falsely attributed to a retaliation against a surprise attack by the Palestinian group Hamas, resulting in hundreds of casualties. The caption of the video on Facebook and another social media platform read, “BREAKING: Israeli Air Force is striking terror targets in Gaza.” However, it was later revealed that the video was from airstrikes that occurred in May, as reported by Reuters.
In another case, multiple users on various platforms, including X and TikTok, shared a video depicting two jets being towed on the ground. Various claims emerged, with some suggesting that it showed Israeli Defense forces evacuating air bases near Gaza, while others contended it portrayed Hamas forces towing Israeli jets. This video, originally published in September, had been viewed hundreds of thousands of times by Saturday afternoon. Disturbingly, many of these misleadingly labeled videos were shared by verified users on X, who are eligible for content monetization.
Israel has used its social media accounts to attack Hamas, emphasizing, “We are at war.” In one particular video shared on Instagram and X, Israel compared Hamas to ISIS, using text placed over an alleged kidnapping video that said, “Same ideology, different names.”
Social media companies have taken action by banning Hamas-affiliated accounts and politicians. In response, Hamas has shifted its focus primarily to the messaging platform Telegram to disseminate its content, witnessing a significant surge in followers on Saturday.
As the conflict rages on, the battle for narratives and public perception on social media remains a critical dimension of this complex and rapidly evolving situation.
