The APA defines disinformation as “false information which is deliberately intended to mislead—intentionally misstating the facts.”
Early into Hamas’ attack on Israel, a headline broke declaring 40 Israeli babies were beheaded at the hands of Hamas soldiers.
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu posted pictures of the bloody event– blaming their deaths on Hamas.
These claims created a media frenzy that called for justice for Israel and argued that Palestinians were murderers.
When the Israeli Defense Federation (IDF) was questioned about the deaths, they said they would not be seeking any sort of verification.
None of these claims are backed up by any confirmation, and some of them have been retracted.
Headlines like these lack an important factor– context– and highlight a perfect example of disinformation.
Other inaccuracies were seen when celebrities like Jamie Lee Curtis and Justin Bieber made their support for Israel known while unknowingly showing pictures of the destruction in Gaza from Israeli air strikes.
A fake White House press release flooded the internet saying that Biden was planning to provide $8 billion of emergency relief to Israel.
The severity of the untrue media that has surrounded the Hamas attack and the Palestinians has caused a horrific narrative about Palestine and has only increased the terror in the Gaza strip.
While the condemnable Hamas attack resulted in the tragic loss of lives, it’s important to remember the history and current reality of living in Palestine.
After decades of occupation, the Gaza Strip, home to 2.3 million people, has turned into an open-air prison. Israel monitors movement in and out of Gaza, and limits Palestinians from freely shifting.
Over 60% of Gazans are food insecure, and after the Oct. 7 attack, Israel has cut off all electricity, water and food being transported into Gaza.
Notably, Palestine has had a more significant death toll compared to Israel throughout the history of their fighting.
While a complicated topic, opposition to Israel did not appear out of nowhere. Israel and Palestine have had a long relationship filled with oppression and ethnic genocide.
Israel has responded to the Hamas attack with a horrific and deadly counterattack that has displaced half of Gaza’s population and killed almost 4,000 Palestinians.
As the crisis worsens and the medical centers begin to run out of fuel, people need to know how to consume media thoughtfully.
Be aware of how the information might be swayed to align with a popular narrative or get more views.
After the recent bombing at the Al-Ahli hospital in Gaza City, Israel argued that it wasn’t an Israeli strike, but a Hamas misfire. Both groups have denied their involvement in the blast that killed over 500 injured people, but it is evident that this would serve the Israeli angle.
News sources have reported alarming rates of false media, with X, previously called Twitter, being subjected to legal investigations.
Inconsistencies continue to jam the news cycle as the accuracy of the situation becomes muddled. Remember to check multiple news sites and be cognizant of biases and political leanings.
One of the most renowned news sites, The Associated Press, reports current coverage of the conflict, providing factual content.
To learn about the history of the war, click here, and to read current news, click here.
