The conflict between Israel and Hezbollah along the Lebanon-Israel border has escalated in recent weeks, with thousands of Lebanese being displaced and over 600 killed in Israeli bombardment. Israel is using not only airstrikes and threats of a land invasion but also psychological pressure to manufacture consent for war. This approach is reminiscent of Israel’s wartime playbook, which includes tactics to terrorize people and gain support for military actions.
A new plan to ethnically cleanse North Gaza, known as “The Generals’ Plan,” has been proposed and has received support from across the Israeli political spectrum. This plan has raised concerns about further escalating violence in the region.
The concept of “Hasbara,” a Hebrew word meaning “explanation” or “persuasion,” has long been a key strategy of the Zionist movement. This includes media-trained government spokespeople delivering messaging on TV, PR campaigns portraying the Israeli army as moral and cool, and extensive social media outreach. However, the work of online Zionist influencers, known as hasbarists, has become more challenging in light of the ongoing violence in Gaza.
Israeli author and influencer Hen Mazzig, Professor Saree Makdisi, and other experts discuss the impact of online hasbarists and the difficulties they face in presenting a positive image of Israel amidst allegations of genocide in Gaza. This article sheds light on the tactics used by Israel to gain support for its military actions and highlights the challenges faced by those promoting a pro-Israel narrative in the face of ongoing violence in the region.
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