Israel running YouTube ad to build war support

Users argued the clip violates the platform’s policies on hate speech and violence. (AFP/File)
Users argued the clip violates the platform’s policies on hate speech and violence. (AFP/File)
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Updated 09 October 2023
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Israel running YouTube ad to build war support

Israel running YouTube ad to build war support
  • Clip denouncing Hamas’ ‘barbaric terrorists’ sparks debate over propaganda

LONDON: Israel is running a YouTube advertisement to build international support for its war with Hamas, Al Arabiya reported on Monday.

The ad, titled “Hamas Declared War Against Israel,” was published by the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs using a simple voiceover with text in English, asking for support from the audience.

It warned that Tel Aviv will take all necessary measures to protect its citizens against “barbaric terrorists.”

The ad has sparked a debate on social media, with some users calling it “propaganda” and others defending Israel’s right to self-defense.

“Israel launched a bizarre propaganda campaign to rally public support for its war against Palestine following yesterday’s bloody offensive,” said one account.

 

Some have also criticized YouTube for approving the ad, arguing that the clip violates the platform’s policies on hate speech and violence.

One user said that the ad was “funded by the state of Israel and clearly intended to justify a major escalation of the war to a Western audience.”

Another asked: “How is it not getting banned?”

 

On Saturday, conflict erupted between Israel and Hamas after the Palestinian group launched a major strike from the Gaza Strip.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded by declaring his country at war with Hamas and calling up 300,000 army reservists in preparation for a blockade of Gaza.

Since the violence erupted, more than 1,000 people have died, including foreign nationals, with hundreds held hostage and many thousands reported to have been displaced.