Israel's biggest fight is against propaganda. Fact-checking is a duty

The Print

a day ago

But there was one problem: The story was fake.
On 1 June 2025, some top international media outlets rushed to publish alarming headlines along the lines of: 'Israeli forces open fire at Gaza aid site, kill at least 31 Palestinians.' Without any delay, news platforms picked the story almost verbatim, amplifying the claim that Israeli troops had opened fire on innocent civilians waiting for humanitarian aid, resulting in a tragic loss of life. The narrative was emotionally charged, complete with harrowing images and heart-wrenching testimonies by, of course, 'Palestinian health officials'—exactly the kind of material that garners viral traction in the digital age.
In an age where headlines travel faster than facts and the world is interconnected, it has become alarmingly easy for falsehoods to masquerade as truth—particularly when they serve the interests of hostile actors. Since 7 October 2023, Israel has been dealing with a flood of misinformation and disinformation on a daily basis. And this week was on a whole other scale.
Subsequent investigations by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), the US and Israeli-backed aid initiative that runs the site, revealed that the events were manipulated and misrepresented. Yes, there was chaos. Yes, there were casualties. But they were all the result of what the media labelled as 'some masked gunmen' (that is actually Hamas). Yes, Hamas terrorists were firing at their own civilians, preventing them from getting aid packages and sabotaging the well-organised US-Israeli-backed humanitarian efforts.
It was a deliberate orchestration of panic by Hamas, a terrorist organisation known for its expertise in exploiting civilian suffering for global sympathy. Israeli forces were not the aggressors but had, in fact, coordinated with international bodies to ensure safe and orderly aid distribution.
This was not just a tragic misunderstanding – it was a strategic lie.
Fact-checking is a duty
What's even more concerning is how quickly and uncritically the falsehood was adopted by media outlets near and far. When the inaccuracy was pointed out, some media outlets corrected their reports—but by then, the damage was done. The false narrative had already spread like wildfires, shaping public perception and fueling it with Hamas propaganda. Yet another victory for Hamas in spreading their lies.
With such a robust and diverse media landscape, stories sometimes bypass the rigorous filters of verification and balance. In the rush to be first, too often we forget to be right.
In a region as volatile as West Asia, misinformation doesn't just distort perception—it can cost lives, incite violence, and derail peace efforts.
Hamas and similar groups are well aware of this dynamic. They do not merely fight with rockets—they fight with rumours (sounds familiar? India recently experienced something very similar from a neighbour). They weaponise emotion and imagery, knowing that the court of global opinion is as critical as any battlefield. Their goal is not just to resist Israel militarily, but to isolate it diplomatically and vilify it morally. In this war of narratives, every unverified headline that echoes their propaganda is a victory for extremism.
Israel remains committed to the safety of all civilians—Israeli and Palestinian alike. Every aid shipment into Gaza, every ceasefire proposal, and every diplomatic negotiation is a testament to that commitment. But Israel's efforts are undermined when lies are allowed to overshadow facts.
We must all uphold the standards of our profession: Fact-checking is not a luxury; it is a duty. Let us not allow those who thrive in confusion—dictate the narrative.
In this age of information warfare, truth is our strongest ally. Let us protect it together.
Guy Nir is Spokesperson at Embassy of Israel in India. Views are personal.