Is this the future of warfare? While rockets continue falling across Israel, with air raid sirens being sounded in Tel Aviv for the first time since the 1991 Gulf War, Israel is fighting back in more ways than one. Operation Pillar of Defense is ongoing, and now that citizens of Tel Aviv have found themselves in stairwells and basements, it is likely that the possibility of a ground invasion just increased exponentially. The second front in the offensive against Hamas’s aggression has formed on the web. This is the first time a war has been live-tweeted.
It began with an IDF tweet yesterday, soon after the targeted assassination of Ahmed al-Jabari, the military commander of Hamas. The IDF’s official account tweeted:
We recommend that no Hamas operatives, whether low level or senior leaders, show their faces above ground in the days ahead.
— IDF (@IDFSpokesperson) November 14, 2012
Soon after, the official account for Hamas responded:
@idfspokesperson Our blessed hands will reach your leaders and soldiers wherever they are (You Opened Hell Gates on Yourselves)
— Alqassam Brigades (@AlqassamBrigade) November 14, 2012
That began a series of tweets from both accounts directed at each other. For the first time, each side could tell observers, without using the mainstream media as a channel, what they were fighting for and why. Unfortunately for Hamas, the increased scrutiny has made it much more difficult to get away with public relations antics it has utilized in previous conflicts.
Yesterday the official Hamas feed tweeted a photo of dead child, held in the arms of a sobbing man without any reference about who or where the victims were. Unfortunately for Hamas, many Twitter users immediately recognized the photo. It wasn’t from Gaza and it wasn’t even that recent; it was from Syria. While the Hamas feed has continually claimed that its civilians are under attack by the Israeli military, the proof they provide has been much more easily fact-checked by millions of Twitter users.
Israel is using social media to explain the morality of the war it is fighting in the Gaza strip, filled with civilians. From their official YouTube account, video has been posted of leaflets being dropped on residents, explaining how they can best protect themselves in the fighting between the terrorist organization and the Jewish state. On the IDF’s website, an entire blog post explained the lengths Israel goes to in order to minimize civilian casualties. In the war of information, Israel’s detailed accounts of its activities are much more persuasive than misleading pictures from Syria posted on Twitter by Hamas without context.
It is leadership testing time for Obama to stand up and raise his voice for humanity, justice, fairness, compassion and above all American values telling Israel to enough is enough, and stop all atrocities, massacres, genocide and targeted killings of occupied, suppressed, and faceless human beings. HAMAS and Palestinians are suffering for the last 60 years only because of the blanketed support of the super power. By blindly supporting Israel's atrocities, we have not made Israel safe and secure but very vulnerable for deadly attack and giving false promises, we have not made Palestinians more cowards who can surrender to their occupiers. Obama failed miserably 4 years ago, hope he should not close his eyes and soul and failed again.He received the Nobel Price in advance to show his real leadership in advancing peace in the world, not war, killings and destruction.
Hahahaha!
Perhaps after the election Mr.Obama can be more flexible as he hinted to the Russians. He will not need the Jewish vote any more – although he would probably lose only ~5% of it even if he openly supported Nazis. So you are right, I will not be surprised if he shows "leadership" and starts openly supporting Israel's enemies. Israel will survive without the support of the hostile American president. Maybe with a little help from us – its Jewish friends who are still sane. And it will continue to be strong and retaliate with 10x violence to the surrounding it terrorists. Because it is Middle East, John, and in the Middle East you have to be strong to survive. Do not take my word for it – study history. Remember, it is HAMAS who is the aggressor shooting rockets that kill israelis
Very smart of the IDF.
It's about time. A very strong case can be made that Israel has "lost" the propaganda war for the past 30 years or so for a variety of reasons. I'm very glad that they've taken an aggressive stance beginning somewhat during Cast Lead and now from the get-go on this defensive action. n nLet's hope they don't lose their momentum and keep the positive hasbara coming.