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  2. Will Hamas Win the Propaganda War?
November 3, 2023 at 9:05 PM

Will Hamas Win the Propaganda War?

Susan Quinn
@SusanQuinn

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As we watch with alarm the pro-Hamas protests that are taking place all over the world and in the U.S. in response to the war in Israel, I can’t help but wonder about the mindset of these people. Can it really just be about anti-Semitism, meaning that you can cheer on the attackers and destroyers? Do all of those people ignore the evidence about the vicious attacks on civilians, women, and children in Israel, or do they simply not care because they are Jews?

Especially concerning is that when this conflict is over (and I have to assume it will end one day), what will world opinion say about the two adversaries? What happens if the world condemns Israel and supports Hamas? You may say that couldn’t happen, but if you look at the propaganda war that Hamas is waging, I wouldn’t be so sure. Even when Hamas acts in ways that hurt the Palestinians, the world takes their side. Let me give you a few examples:

  1. Demanding a cease fire to bring in humanitarian aid—there is no way to be assured that the aid that comes in will not be taken by Hamas for their war efforts. John Kirby with the NSC even tried to re-label the cease-fire by calling it a “pause,” but even if they took that approach, international pressure would likely demand that it be extended or that negotiations commence. Meanwhile, watch for pressure from the United States and then other nations to ramp up the aid on behalf of the Palestinians. Meanwhile, Hamas will steal the aid for themselves.
  2. Hamas builds hospitals, schools, homes, and businesses over the huge maze of tunnels they have built. Hamas isn't reluctant to use human beings as shields, even their own people. Every time Israel tries to destroy a tunnel that provides a safe haven for Hamas, they could be destroying the people in the building above ground, as well as those in the tunnels, including not only Hamas fighters but hostages and other civilians. Striking hospitals, even under these circumstances, will bring Israel’s fighting strategy into question. And of course, many Israeli soldiers will die, no matter how advanced their techniques for tunnel destruction.
  3. Hamas has told the Israelis from the start to enact a cease-fire so that negotiations to release the hostages can take place. Acquiescing to any demand from Hamas would put Israel in a weak position, and the Israelis would not have the power to insist that Hamas agree to their terms. At this point, there is no way to know how many hostages are still alive. Although every human life is precious, hundreds if not thousands of lives could be at stake if negotiations for hostages took place.
  4. Most of the mainstream media is colluding with Hamas. Reports of the activities on October 7 are limited, so, information on the full horror of the Hamas attack can only be found on certain media.
  5. Even the media is using the pejorative language of Hamas: words like apartheid, colonialism, occupation are commonplace. Every time these words are used, they condemn Israel—and sympathize with Hamas.
  6. Iran will continue to supply Hamas with weapons, and at this time, there is no indication that anyone, including the US, is prepared to stop them. Joe Biden is either intimidated by Iran or still harbors the outrageous belief that he will be able to negotiate an agreement with Iran.
  7. When hospitals are hit with weapons, the Palestinian Ministry of Health reports the number of people killed or wounded. The PMH, however, has been shown in the past to be unreliable regarding the accuracy of these numbers. We saw this verified when Hamas blamed Israel for striking a hospital, claiming hundreds were killed; instead, an out-of-control missile from Islamic Jihad was responsible, and many fewer were hurt. Neither Hamas not the PMH corrected the record.
  8. Israel will enter Palestinian villages if they are harboring Hamas leaders, as they did in Jabaliya, a Hamas stronghold. In the process, many Palestinians will also perish. These actions ensure that the Hamas leadership is destroyed, but the Israelis will be accused of killing civilians.
  9. Protestors insist that the stories of Hamas atrocities are misinformation, even though Hamas filmed their actions of attacking, burning civilians, and killing babies.

* * * *

If the propaganda of the war continues in a similar fashion, Israel will begin to fall out of favor. Countries will criticize the number of civilians who have died. Humanitarian aid will be insufficient. Hamas infrastructure and population will be decimated. Hamas will continue to try to justify its actions; several days after the initial massacre, a Hamas official said the following:

Hamas official Ghazi Hamad, a member of the Hamas politburo and Hamas deputy prime minister, said in an interview on Lebanon's LBC TV that Hamas will continue to repeat the October 7 'Al-Aqsa Flood' Operation, in which over 1,400 people were cruelly slaughtered and over 200 people kidnapped into Gaza, over and over until Israel is ‘annihilated.’

In contrast, Benjamin Netanyahu stated the following:

I hope and pray that civilized nations everywhere will back this fight. Because Israel’s fight is your fight. If Hamas and Iran’s axis of evil win, you will be his new target. That’s why Israel’s victory will be your victory.

The world will be changed by this war. Even if Israel “wins the war,” the next step could be Iran’s actions to establish the next caliphate. What happens if the world rejects Israel as the victor?

Who do you think will win the propaganda war? What happens then?

This post was promoted to the Main Feed at the recommendation of Ricochet's members.

Discussion (331)

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    Dotorimuk@Dotorimuk·2y
    Here in Korea, two people I know who were 100% on Israel’s side have already been swayed by the propaganda. It’s unreal how quick it happened.
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    Stad@Stad·2y

    Hamas will win the propaganda war among the weak-minded, which includes a boatload of college students in this country . . .

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    Susan Quinn@SusanQuinn·2y
    ReplyingtoDotorimuk

    Dotorimuk (View Comment):

    Here in Korea, two people I know who were 100% on Israel’s side have already been swayed by the propaganda. It’s unreal how quick it happened.

    I

    It doesn't take long, and it doesn't take much. I'm worried.

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    Susan Quinn@SusanQuinn·2y
    ReplyingtoStad

    Stad (View Comment):

    Hamas will win the propaganda war among the weak-minded, which includes a boatload of college students in this country . . .

    When the fighting is over, how will that win affect Israel?

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    Red Herring@EHerring·2y
    They fight a propaganda war because they know it will work.
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