Less than 48 hours after the start of the Hamas attack against Israel which left nearly a thousand dead on both camps, the war is also taking place on social networks. From the start, we saw the surge, particularly on X (formerly Twitter), of hundreds of videos of the assault carried out by the armed wing of the Islamist organization. Particularly “well-edited” images, “produced” with a martial sound background, and which have been authenticated by the Israeli authorities. They show the massive arrival of Hamas fighters on Israeli territory, by land, sea but also by air. In one of them, widely relayed on social networks, we see fighters “infiltrating using paragliders” into southern Israel. “Dozens of terrorists” were able to cross the border, some of them using this means of transport, reports The Times of Israel.
In other propaganda videos, aimed at showing Hamas’ preparation and organization in this attack, soldiers are seen launching drones “deployed during the bombing operation”. Another propaganda video shows Hamas soldiers celebrating the capture of a potentially captured Merkava tank from Israeli forces.
Palestinians take control of an Israeli tank after crossing the border into Israel from Khan Yunis, October 7, 2023 in the southern Gaza Strip.
© / afp.com/SAID KHATIB
Bloody images worthy of the worst terrorist groups
Other images are much more difficult to watch because the violence they convey is so barbaric. Indeed, since yesterday, social networks have also been flooded with images of dead, unconscious or injured civilians, or even brutal hostage-takings. One video in particular was broadcast: that of a young woman, identified as an Israeli-German citizen, half naked in the back of a pick-up loaded with Gazan soldiers. She seems unconscious or even dead, her body is immobile. And around her, her tormentors are galvanized.
Other photos and videos show, as a sign of “victory”, buildings hit by rocket fire from the Gaza Strip and frightened civilians in a state of shock.
While Israel shows its mighty strike force
On the Hebrew State side, videos are also shared on all social platforms. While Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared a state of war on Saturday October 7, the IDF army is also trying to exist by showing its preparation and organization in the face of the violent armed incursions of Hamas. IDF officers communicate in front of the camera (format intended for social networks), in Arabic: “I have one thing to say, Hamas has opened the gates of hell on Gaza, Hamas has made the decision and will bear the responsibility for it. responsibility,” says Ghassan Alian, head of the Israeli Defense Ministry body overseeing civilian activities in the Palestinian Territories.
Dozens of Israeli armored tanks were also filmed being driven towards the Gazan enclave earlier in the day. The IDF shows the great resources at its disposal, not hesitating to post photos of strikes on Gaza.
If social networks are forced to moderate this content under European directives, certain videos published and still online raise questions. On X (formerly Twitter), content management seems uncertain since the purchase of the platform by Elon Musk. Conversely, more surprisingly, on Telegram feeds, which usually pay little attention to content, many videos are cut.